Aviva Premiership 2015/2016: Round 11 Predictions

Bath Rugby vs Gloucester Rugby

The West Country derby never fails to ignite the passion of the locals, and despite the presence of the Six Nations in everyone’s minds the fans will still be out in force on Friday night. Bath are missing several key faces and name Dan Bowden at fly-half with both George Ford and Ollie Devoto away with England. Gloucester have plenty of experience amongst their ranks, chiefly in Welsh discards Richard Hibbard and James Hook.

Bath won both instalments of this fixture by 20 points or more last season, but both sides are much changed this time around. Home advantage should still see them across the line, but it will be close. Bath by 3.

Harlequins vs Northampton Saints

Harlequins are greater affected by international call-ups than Northampton, although the hosts can still call upon the experience of Evans, Horwill and Easter to lead the charge. Their loss at Newcastle has put the on the backfoot somewhat and they must win this to keep the pace with the top three – especially with Leicester, one point above them, with a winnable home fixture against Sale. The Northampton line-up looks immensely powerful, and Harry Mallinder is given another chance to shine in the 12 shirt with Luther Burrell shifting to 13.

Harlequins are unbeaten at home in the league this season but the loss to Newcastle exposed their soft underbelly with some key individuals absent. Any other year and Northampton would be favourites to win this, but they are just playing terribly at the moment. It’s looking like a home win. Harlequins by 5.

Wasps vs Newcastle Falcons

Andy Goode makes his first start for Newcastle against the club at which he enjoyed a lot of success in the latter part of his career. Wasps’s win away at Northampton was exactly what the doctor ordered for their ailing league campaign. The big news for the hosts is the welcome return of Christian Wade – he joins Josh Bassett in a lightening quick wing duo.

Despite Newcastle’s upturn in form, there isn’t really too much debate about this one – Wasps should win comfortably. Wasps by 15.

Leicester Tigers vs Sale Sharks

The Tigers left it late to beat Gloucester last weekend but the victory sent them above Harlequins into third place. They can consolidate that and close the gap on the top two, with Exeter and Saracens playing each other so one guaranteed to drop points. The Tigers line-up is strong, with Ed Slater and Leo Ghiraldini returning from injury to the bench and Peter Betham and Telusa Veianu – the architects of one of the tries of the season last weekend – on the wings. There is a distinctly English flavour to Sale’s in-form squad – Josh Beaumont captains a side with Tommy Taylor, Danny Cipriani, Nev Edwards, Sam James and Mike Haley all on fire at the moment.

Sale represent a potential banana skin for Leicester, but they are adept at avoiding those this season – they should manage a win here. Leicester by 9.

Exeter Chiefs vs Saracens

The undoubted game of the weekend sees the top two do battle at Sandy Park. It is an excellent time for the Chiefs to play the league leaders, with several of their stars away on England duty. As ever, however, their strength in depth is obvious with the likes of Barritt, Hodgson, Brits, Hamilton and Brown all on duty. Exeter also have absentees, but fewer. Sam Hill will look to impress in the centres, with potential participation later in England’s Six Nations campaign on the line.

Exeter did the double over Saracens last season and have an imperious home record this campaign – with Saracens’ absentees, the Chiefs should inflict the second league loss of the season on the champions. Exeter by 6.

London Irish vs Worcester Warriors

London Irish were utterly abject in their pummelling at the hands of Sale last weekend, and they will have to be much better this time out if they are to beat a Worcester side whose recent horrible run of form belies some impressive performances. Irish continue with Shane Geraghty at fly-half despite his recent troubles, and the undoubted potential of Theo Brophy-Clews on the bench. Worcester make just one change from the side that lost to Exeter, with Matt Cox coming onto the openside flank.

In many ways this is the hardest game to predict of the weekend, because both are suffering in terms of form. A win for Irish would be huge, and could lift them off the bottom of the table. But they were just so poor against Sale last week, that I can see Worcester bagging a hugely important away win. Worcester by 3.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images