Bath Rugby vs Saracens

Bath showed some much-needed grit to drag themselves over the line in a grim West Country derby against Gloucester last weekend. Their reward is a visit by the team that beat them in last year’s final, and who were galvanised by their returning Grand Slam stars to romp past Exeter last weekend. A win here would just about keep Bath in touch with the European places, while Saracens, incredibly, could feasibly drop to third with a loss. Dave Attwood and Chris Ashton return after lengthy absences for injury and indiscipline respectively, but the headline battle is clearly between Owen Farrell and George Ford in the number 10 jersey.

Before the season began, you would have backed this to be a difficult one to call. And while Bath won’t roll over completely, this Saracens side marries power up front and ambition in the backs so well that it is very difficult to see them losing this. Saracens by 10.

Exeter Chiefs vs Worcester Warriors

Exeter’s loss to Saracens wasn’t unexpected, but the manner in which they were overrun would have been dispiriting for them. This week they face a Worcester side who are amongst the form sides in the league, five wins in their last six games moving them well clear of the relegation fight, and should they win and Bath lose, they will leapfrog the West Countrymen into ninth. Exeter have an immensely strong squad, able to name Six Nations star Michele Campagnaro and arch-finisher James Short on the bench, while ex-Harlequins and Saracens prop James Johnston gets his first start on the Worcester tighthead.

Worcester’s unbeaten run has been hugely commendable, but it should come to an end against an Exeter side reeling from last weekend’s defeat. Exeter by 12.

Harlequins vs Newcastle Falcons

Quins have been going backwards at a rate of knots, with just four wins in eleven premiership games this calendar year. It has seen them slip away from the play-off race and they are now looking over their shoulders at Sale, who could leapfrog them into European contention if they win their game in hand. Newcastle are in similarly bad form, with a string of five straight losses leaving them edging back towards the trap door. Quins have England contingent Clifford, Robshaw, Marler, Care and Brown all starting, while Newcastle give a start to the lesser seen Sinoti Sinoti on the wing.

Newcastle have beaten Harlequins in their last two encounters, but both were at Kingston Park, and you have to go quite a long way back to find their last win at the Stoop. A home win is on the cards. Harlequins by 15.

London Irish vs Sale Sharks

London Irish have five vital points from their last two games, and will be keen to keep momentum rolling. They picked off Gloucester, a team in a similar situation to Sale, a couple of weeks ago. The Sharks impressed in their win over Leicester at the AJ Bell last week, but their problem has been performing away from the North West, where they have only one win all season, against the same opposition. Tommy Taylor raises his bat as he makes his 100th appearance for the club, while captain David Seymour brings up 200.

Sale look a different team away from home, and this is exactly the kind of game that London Irish need to be winning if they are to stay up. The whiff of desperation is getting so strong that they could well pull off a much-needed upset. London Irish by 3.

Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester Rugby

Last weekend’s lightening-delayed loss to Sale was a hammer blow to the Tigers – it has all but ruled them out of top two contention, and leaves them with a tough ask to leapfrog Northampton into fourth, too. Gloucester’s run of three losses in a row has been similarly tough for fans to take, and another loss here allied with a Bath win would see them drop to ninth. The Tigers name an outrageous backline containing a Tuilagi, a Goneva, a Betham and a Veainu, while Gloucester make a whopping eight changes including welcoming back Ben Morgan for the first time since February.

Leicester won’t dominate Gloucester up front as they have in recent years – the Cherry and Whites are much improved there this season. But the Tigers’ backline looks fearsome, and should the game open up – as they will want it to under Mauger’s influence – there should be tries aplenty. Leicester by 12.

Wasps vs Northampton Saints

We save the best for last this weekend as third plays fourth. Wasps’ run of form is really quite astonishing – they have three bonus point wins in a row, and nine wins from their last ten games in the competition. The unenviable task of stopping them this weekend falls to Northampton, who themselves have been on a decent run since the turn of the year. Wasps name Craig Hampson at scrum-half (Dan Robson is injured) after making his debut last weekend, while Nathan Hughes starts and James Haskell is on the bench. Northampton make four changes including the ever-impressive Harry Mallinder in the centres as Luther Burrell is given a rest.

Northampton will look to draw Wasps into a dogfight, but it is not a tactic that has worked for quite some time against the rampant Midlanders. There is a chink of weakness in the inexperience at half-back for the home side, but even so, it is very difficult not to pick Wasps when they are in this kind of form. Wasps by 6.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images