- Worcester +16 at Wasps (10/11, various)
- Worcester over 19.5 points v Wasps (10/11, Paddy Power)
- Leicester +0.5 h'cap & under 58.5 pts in the match (7/4, Paddy Power)
Strange things happen when Worcester play. Who’d have thought they’d have led Exeter at half-time; who’d have thought they’d finish within a point of Bristol?
Whenever Worcester take on one of the ‘top teams’ – and we still include Wasps as one given they reached the final barely six months ago – they raise their game.
In addition to the purple patches that they enjoyed against the Bears and the Chiefs, against Sale, another member of the top-four contingent, they were unlucky not to come away with the points.
With a defence leakier than a government covid-announcement, going the whole hog and backing them to add to their solitary on-pitch win over London Irish in round one might be asking too much, but against an up-and-down Wasps team, giving them 16 points might be too many.
Wasps have had their fair share of heartaches in the last 12 months but you get the impression their harrowing last-minute defeat to Quins last week will take longer than a week to get over.
Killjoy Tigers to deny Quins
Harlequins – and Marcus Smith – are riding the crest of the wave at the moment but the Tigers are back to their grumpiest best under poker-faced Steve Borthwick.
Tigers will be in no mood to give Quins the freedom that they enjoyed in their 90-point plus romp against Wasps, and will look to turn the screw at every given opportunity in the tight.
Welford Road is not exactly Quins’ favourite ground, the Londoners having gone seven years without a win there from 2013-2020. They are unbeaten in their last four against Tigers, however, home or away.
