Aviva Premiership 2014/2015: Round 6 Predictions

Leicester Tigers vs Harlequins

The Tigers are in a rut – we know this. Three losses on the bounce isn’t good by anyone’s standards but for the Tigers it is close to a catastrophe – four would constitute a full-blown disaster. Quins, on the face of it, would not appear to be the ideal opponents then. They’ve had their own issues this season but re-found their form last week as they crushed London Welsh. The Tigers’ issues have been in the front five – the set-piece has been poor – and their defensive line has been full of holes. Quins are well-equipped to make the most of the latter, but not so much the former – the tight is not where their strengths lie. The return of Manu Tuilagi is a boost for the Tigers, as is Marcos Ayerza’s presence on the bench. Quins welcome back George Lowe to the substitutes.

The Tigers have got to stop losing at some point haven’t they? For the past four weeks we’ve backed them to win only for them to lose. Despite Quins having a good record at Welford Road in recent times, this is the week the arrest the slide. Leicester by 3.

London Welsh vs Newcastle Falcons

After a truly torrid start to the season, this fixture represents a real chance at redemption for London Welsh. A win could be a shot in the arm for them, and spur them on to further victories. The fact that Newcastle managed an impressive win over Exeter last week doesn’t help, however – they’ll arrive at the Kassam with their tails up. Worse, the Falcons’ previously blunt attack looked sharp – there were offloads and line-breaks all over the shop. London Welsh’s defensive frailities this season have been well-documented, but it’s tough to see them shipping 50 to Newcastle. They’ll be revved up for this one – they’ll know a loss leaves them staring down the barrel of relegation, and that’s really saying something given we’re only in round six.

Welsh will up their game and had this been last season I think they’d win. Newcastle look to have a bit more about them this year, however, and I’m backing them to come away with a crucial win. Newcastle by 10.

Exeter Chiefs vs London Irish

Exeter were brought back down to earth with a bang last weekend as they lost to Newcastle, not a result predicted by many. This week they face London Irish, who have similarly impressed in the opening few weeks of the season and pulled off one of the results of the campaign so far when they stormed Welford Road. Both sides make changes aplenty and you have to say that it’s the home team who look the more impressive on paper – the Steenson/Hill/Slade axis is reunited, with Jack Nowell on the wing ready to reap the benefits.

Irish have game changers of their own, in the form of Shane Geraghty and Alex Lewington, but it’s tough to see past a home win here. Exeter by 10.

Saracens vs Gloucester Rugby

Sarries departed the Rec last Friday without even a bonus point to celebrate, and their tails firmly between their legs. It was the last result Gloucester would have hoped for. Expect a backlash this week. The hosts have made changes – Ben Ransom, who looked nippy when he came on last week, replaces Alex Goode at fullback, while Brad Barritt is back in the centres to shore up an area that conceded two tries last week. Ernst Joubert gets a start on the blindside with Kelly Brown shifting to the openside – a change that will not have escaped the notice of Matt Kvesic, a much more natural breakdown operator. Gloucester impressed in their win against the Tigers, but in truth they were made to look better than they probably are right now.

Expect the hosts to right the wrong of last week and put a few tries past the Cherry and Whites. Saracens by 15.

Northampton Saints vs Sale Sharks

The champions ring the changes for this one, big names like George North and Dylan Hartley given a rest on the bench, with Jamie Elliot getting a rare start. Lee Dickson is preferred at scrum-half while Jon Fisher comes onto the openside flank to join Tom Wood and Samu Manoa. Sale retain mostly the same line-up that put in a hugely impressive defensive shift to overcome Wasps last weekend, although Josh Beaumont, son of the England great Bill, comes into the engine room to join Michael Paterson.

Saints may have rested some of their bigger names, but they should still have far too much firepower for this Sale side. Northampton by 16.

Wasps vs Bath Rugby

With all that’s been going on off the pitch this week, Wasps will be keen to get back to focussing on matters on it. They’ve a tough assignment in the form of a Bath side who ride into town with their tails up after their impressive win over Saracens. Wasps have, for some reason, delayed naming their team, but if Alapati Leuia and Elliot Daly line up opposite the so-far exquisite pairing of Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph in the centres, then we could be in for some real fireworks. Add in the likes of Rokoduguni, Watson, Varndell and Wade out wide, and this really is a game not to be missed.

I don’t think the off-field matters will affect the Wasps players much, but I still think this season’s Bath v2.0 are going to be too good for them this weekend. Bath by 6.

How do you see the weekend going?

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images