Gallagher Premiership 2020/21 - Round 1 Archive

The Rugby Tipster keeps you up-to-date with the latest on each round of matches in the Gallagher Premiership. Our in-depth knowledge of form and team selection can guide your rugby betting selections.

HARLEQUINS

Friday 20th November

19:45

PREDICTION – Chiefs by 8

EXETER CHIEFS

Exeter aren’t the type of team to dwell on their success but you can’t help but think returning to Twickenham, albeit the Stoop not the national stadium, just under a month since they lifted the Premiership trophy, may feel a bit of a comedown.

If they are going to be flat, they might find themselves having to play catch-up as Quins put in one of their best performances of the season in beating Sale in the first game after lockdown, and will be enrgised by this latest break.

Quins have named a very callow bench, whilst Exeter have experience by the bucketload to bring on, so a HT/FT bet on Quins/Exeter (5/1) might not be a bad shout.

SALE SHARKS

Friday 20th November

20:00

PREDICTION – 14

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

If Sale are going to be considered serious title contenders this season, this is exactly the type of game they can’t afford to slip up in.

Saints go into the game boosted by the news that DoR Chris Boyd has finally agreed a new deal, which will help get rid of any uneasiness in the squad’s minds.

With the likes of England stars George Furbank and Piers Francis in the backs and Teimana Harrison and Tom Wood in the forwards, Saints are no slouches, but the Sharks have named close to what is their strongest XV.

Class acts Lood de Jager and Manu Tuilagi are missing through injury and Tom Curry is with England but most Premiership sides would be more than happy with the XV Steve Diamond has put out.

Still feeling aggrieved by the manner in which they missed out on last season’s play-offs, the Sharks will look to take out that pent-up frustration on the Saints and will want nothing less than five points.

BATH RUGBY

Saturday 21st November

12:30

PREDICTION – Bath by 30

NEWCASTLE FALCONS

Okay Argentina beat New Zealand for the first time in history despite having not played for over a year, but you cannot help but think the Falcons are in for a tough afternoon at The Rec.

Two run-outs against Ealing Trailfinders is the only game time the Falcons have had since winning the Championship in March, and with so many new combinations thrown together, it is going to take more than that for them to gel.

By contrast, Bath’s line-up has a familiar look to it, and in Joe Cokanasiga and Ruaridh McConnochie they have two serious weapons out wide. Semesa Rokoduguni only just makes the 23.

Bath will be too streetwise for Newcastle and can be expected to pile on the points.

LEICESTER TIGERS

Saturday 21st November

15:00

Gloucester by 5

GLOUCESTER RUGBY

It’s a good job Tigers brought in Richard Wigglesworth at nine, otherwise, anything less than the most avid Premiership rugby fan wouldn’t have recognised half the Tigers backline.

What looks like a poor-quality squad faces another season of toil and, on paper, you’d have to say Gloucester look far superior.

Even with Jonny May and Ollie Thorley away with England and Louis Rees-Zammit on Wales duty, they can still name two ex-England wings in Charlie Sharples and Matt Banahan, while Jason Woodward is still a running threat at 15. Leicester’s back three is Freddie Steward, at 15, and Kobus van Wyk and Harry Potter on the wings

Not many people would think long and hard about which fly-half they’d choose, either. Zach Henry or Danny Cipriani? No contest.

Ed Slater and Matt Garvey provide the grit in the Gloucester pack and new signing and former Tiger, Jamie Gibson, another player who should have never been allowed to leave Welford Road, is on the bench.

WORCESTER WARRIORS

Saturday 21st November

15:00

PREDICTION – Irish by 4

LONDON IRISH

Probably the toughest of the opening round’s fixtures to call, but we’re going to side with Irish.

Warriors are without their little general, Duncan Weir, and their ‘go-to’ man in midfield, Ollie Lawrence, and that pair will undoubtedly be missed. On the flipside, Ted Hill has been released by England and captains the side from the back row.

If Irish are still in touch by the 50-60 minute mark, the odds will be stacked in their favour as they are able to call on the quality of Agustin Creevy, Allan Dell, Blair Cowan and Nick Phipps from the bench.

Saturday’s match will be preceded by a minute’s silence for Cecil Duckworth CBE, Warriors President, who passed away last weekend aged 83. Warriors players will also wear black armbands as a mark of respect.,

WASPS

Sunday 22nd November

13:00

PREDICTION – Wasps by 18

BRISTOL BEARS

Ravaged by injury and hit hard by international call-ups, especially at fly-half, Bristol look up against it as they take a trip to last season’s beaten finalists.

Young Sam Bedlow is handed the keys to No.10 with Callum Sheedy and Ioan Lloyd away on international duty, and the youngster will need to acclimatise to the demands of top-flight rugby as quickly as his opposite number, Jacob Umaga, has done if the Bears are going to stand a chance of pulling off what would almost be as big a shock as Newcastle winning at Bath.

Umaga returns from training with England along with turnover maestro Jack Willis to boost a side that will be looking to start far better than they did last season.

Willis joins Brad Shields and Thomas Young in a stellar back-row that should provide hotshots like Zach Kibirige and Josh Bassett with plenty of opportunities to open their accounts for the season for the first time of asking.

Everything points to a comfortable Wasps win.

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Gallagher Premiership 2020/21 - Round 1 Archive

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