Bath vs Saracens
It doesn’t get any easier for Bath. Last week’s trip to Northampton was a real test of their credentials as genuine title challengers this year, and despite the loss, that they managed to come back into the game and earn a bonus point was encouraging. This weekend’s home game against Saracens is a must win. If they want to send the message to the rest of the Premiership that they are a serious title contender, they simply have to win. The signs are all good – the pack is fronting up well, Chris Cook has been a revelation since coming into the team at nine, George Ford looks more composed than ever and they have devastating firepower outside. Sarries are unbeaten so far but have been far from flawless, although they have certainly been looking more ominous in recent weeks.
It should be an absolute belter of a game, a battle of arguably the two best teams of the league so far (sorry Northampton). Brad Barritt is a massive loss in the midfield for Sarries, and his absence, allied with home advantage, just swings the pendulum towards Bath. Bath by 3.
Harlequins vs London Welsh
Harlequins have been out of sorts so far – there’s no two ways about it. They will be thanking the scheduling gods, then, that they have been kind enough to give them a home fixture against whipping boys London Welsh to get themselves back on the right track. There’s not much more we can write about Welsh – the average of just under 50 points conceded per game speaks for itself. Their fitness has looked non-existent, and although they may not lack desire they don’t look like a team. Injuries have wreaked havoc lately, too. The home side welcome back a more established centre pairing of Tom Casson and Matt Hopper and, even more crucially, Nick Evans at pivot.
Despite Quins’ average start to the season, this one is a no-brainer. Harlequins by 28.
London Irish vs Northampton Saints
Any time the Tigers lose at Welford Road, the rest of the Premiership sits up and takes notice. That London Irish won there last week proves that their strong start to the season, in which they pushed Harlequins and Saracens to within a score of victory, was anything but a fluke. All of that, allied with Northampton’s less than stellar performances on the road so far, make this a bit of a banana skin of a prediction. On paper the Saints look much stronger, a squad packed full of internationals, but in the likes of Geraghty, Lewington, Court and Cowan, London Irish have a handful of the season’s top performers so far.
Last season the Saints won this game by five points, and this year could be a similar scoreline. Irish have the belief to beat the big boys, but I’d expect the Saints’ greater power and precision to have shone through by the end of the 80 minutes – just. Northampton by 5.
Gloucester Rugby vs Leicester Tigers
Leicester, like Harlequins, have had a poor start to the season by their lofty standards. Like Harlequins, they have been cut down by a swathe of untimely injuries. Unlike Harlequins, they do not have a gimme fixture this weekend. Gloucester are gradually starting to mature, some strong performances in recent weeks making that humiliation at the hands of the Saints in week one seem like a distant memory. Nick Wood makes his first start of the season, boosting the scrum, but the return of Greig Laidlaw at scrum-half will be met with mixed reactions – Dan Robson was superb last week, and allowed Gloucester to play with a much greater tempo. The Tigers’ injury woes have eased slightly – Brad Thorn makes his debut in the engine room, as does Italian international prop Michele Rizzo. The big news, however, is the demotion of Freddie Burns to the bench for his return to his old stomping ground – not a decision that is likely to boost his confidence.
The Tigers have looked fairly rudderless, and the decision to start Williams at 10 would suggest Cockerill knows this. They’ve welcomed back a few big names, and I’m backing them to just about have enough to pull off a win at Kingsholm. Leicester by 2.
Sale Sharks vs Wasps
They do not get any easier to call as the weekend goes on. Sale have only won once this season – at home to London Welsh – but their performances have deserved more than that. That said, nothing breeds winning quite like winning itself, something that Wasps are gradually getting themselves back into the habit of. They haven’t won away from home yet but they’ve come close and have taken something from every game so far. They rotate their backs – there’s no Tom Varndell or Elliot Daly – but with Helu, Leuia, Wade and Miller, and Masi and Tagicakibau to come off the bench, they’ve got more than enough firepower.
Take no notice of the off-field drama – the players won’t – this Wasps side are a force to be reckoned with. They’ll have too much for Sale this weekend. Wasps by 6.
Newcastle Falcons vs Exeter Chiefs
Newcastle have taken the odd decision to drop probably their best player this year, fullback Simon Hammersley, as one of several changes from the side that has so far failed to pick up a win. Juan Pablo Socino moves to fly-half, which is a risk given his shaky form with the boot so far. How he deals with the dual responsibilities of that and playmaking will be an interesting barometer of whether the Argentine is suited to Premiership rugby. Exeter have made a couple of changes too, the excellent Sam Hill given a rest on the bench, but the playmaking duo of Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade continue their excellent partnership.
Newcastle are in desperate need of a win, but this won’t be the fixture in which they get it. Exeter by 12.
| Hosie | Hutch | |
| BATvSAR | BAT by 3 | SAR by 3 |
| HARvWEL | HAR by 28 | HAR by 23 |
| IRIvNOR | NOR by 5 | NOR by 5 |
| GLOvLEI | LEI by 2 | GLO by 5 |
| SALvWAS | WAS by 6 | SAL by 3 |
| NEWvEXE | EXE by 12 | EXE by 8 |
How do you see the weekend going?
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
