Gallagher Premiership 2019/20 - Round 19 Archive

BRISTOL BEARS

Tuesday 8th September

19:45

PREDICTION – BEARS BY 24

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Round 19 of the Gallagher Premiership begins on Tuesday with what looks to be the ultimate home banker.

While Pat Lam has made eight changes from the side that earned a bonus point win victory over Worcester at Sixways, Bristol are still able to put out a formidable side.

Semi Radradra covered just shy of 200 metres in that 36-13 victory before coming off in the second half and he lines up again at 13, which spells bad news for a callow Saints side.

Radradra and his captain and midfield partner Siale Piutau should be able to punch big holes through a Saints defence that has, at times, been fairly porous since the restart.

Ben Earl’s inclusion in the starting back-row, alongside Nathan Hughes, only adds further weight to the Bears’ ball-carrying ability.

Saints have been a major letdown since the season resumed and rather than carry out a damage limitation exercise, DoR Chris Boyd has opted to give youth its head for the trip to Ashton Gate.

Only Piers Francis and Taqele Naiyaravoro could be classed as first-choice players in the backs. The pack is considerably more experienced, but the bench looks very raw and it is hard to envisage any result other than a heavy Saints loss here.

EXETER CHIEFS

Wednesday 9th September

17:30

PREDICTION – CHIEFS BY 20

GLOUCESTER RUGBY

If Gloucester win on Wednesday it would arguably rank as big a shock as the time Exeter defeated them, almost 10 years to the day,on their Premiership debut.

The Chiefs have only dropped two points since the restart with their so-called fringe players performing just as well as the frontliners. Looking at Rob Baxter’s selection for this game, even the least heralded name amongst the backs, centre Tom Hendrickson, has been having an absolute stormer.

Gloucester have some class in their backs too, as they are able to call upon the likes of Henry Trinder and Charlie Sharples, but, up front, you’d expect them to get out-gunned by a ruthless Chiefs pack headed by the all-England front-row of Ben Moon, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Harry Williams.

WASPS

Wednesday 9th September

17:30

PREDICTION – WASPS BY 14

LEICESTER TIGERS

Games against Bath and Wasps used to be such a big deal for Leicester, but not anymore.

A callow Tigers outfit was outclassed by their former great foes Bath at Welford Road at the end of last month, capitulating in a manner that would be unthinkable a few years ago.

And now they face another rude awakening at the hands of Wasps, who they regularly battled with for silverware in the mid-Noughties.

Ellis Genge captains Tigers from loosehead but there is very little experience elsewhere in the pack, and the situation is similar in the backs, too, with full-back George Worth perhaps the only first-choice player named by head coach Steve Borthwick.

By contrast, Wasps’ side is packed with experience and the fun times they’re having under head coach Lee Blackett look set to continue.

As for Leicester, it might be worth a look at the HT/FT markets. Having staged second-half comebacks against Sale Sharks and Gloucester, the Tigers have now scored 56% of their points after the break in the five matches since the restart.,

SALE SHARKS

Wednesday 9th September

18:00

PREDICTION – SHARKS BY 8

SARACENS

Whenever Sarries suffer adversity they find a way to bounce back but it is hard to see them responding to the fallout from the Owen Farrell red card with ‘an up yours’ type victory at the AJ Bell.

Sale have found their feet after a sluggish start following the return to Premiership action, and in Ben Curry they have discovered a new leader of men. The blindside has some unfamiliar faces around him as Steve Diamond looks to give some youngsters a run out, but Saracens’ line-up has an equally experimental feel about it.

Of all the fixtures in midweek, this is probably one to steer clear of from a betting perspective.

BATH RUGBY

Wednesday 9th September

19:45

PREDICTION – BATH BY 16

WORCESTER WARRIORS

Alan Solomons would never publicly say it but you can bet that Worcester rate their chances of winning at London Irish on Sunday higher than they do for Wednesday’s game at Bath.

Bath have been in irresistible form since the restart with the strength in depth of their nearly-fully fit squad coming to the fore.

In Lewis Boyce, Jack Walker and Christian Judge, they lose nothing in the front-row, while Zach Mercer adds plenty following his inclusion at No.8.

The backline has been shaken up but Semesa Rokodoguni gets another chance to end his lean run on the try front.

For Worcester, there is a welcome return to the fold for Ed Fidow – as long as the Samoa World Cup winger can keep his discipline. Worcester have had enough red mist to last them a season let alone the last few weeks following the dismissals of Melani Nanai and Graham Kitchener.

The Warriors have never won in 15 previous visits to the Recreation Ground in all competitions, and we can’t see that record coming to an end this week.

LONDON IRISH

Wednesday 9th September

19:45

PREDICTION – IRISH BY 4

HARLEQUINS

London Irish have lost their last seven Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures since beating Gloucester in February and have gained just two bonus points in the process.

But there have been glimpses in their recent performances – particularly against Gloucester – that suggest that barren run may come to an end soon.

And who better than to play next than Harlequins, as Irish are on a three-match winning run against their London rivals in the league.

Quins have been hit-and-miss but are boosted by the return of Marcus Smith at fly-half and include the experience of the likes of Scott Baldwin, Chris Robshaw and James Chisholm in the pack.

Quins look stronger on paper, and on logic alone you’d back them to win, even though they are technically the away team on their own ground.

Irish needed a venue to play in for the remainder of the season whilst they waited to relocate to Brentford and Quins came to the rescue by offering them use of the Twickenham Stoop.

Could this be a victory for the tenants over the landlords? We have a hunch it might be.

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Gallagher Premiership 2019/20 - Round 19 Archive

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