Saracens vs London Irish

Saracens are one of two sides with an unbeaten record after two rounds and sit top of the table by virtue of a bonus point. There is a youthful, English flavour to their line-up with exciting prospects Nick Tompkins, Ben Spencer, Jamie George and Maro Itoje all starting. And with all the debate around England’s back-row future, the sublime start to the season made by Will Fraser on the openside will not have escaped anyone’s attention. Irish are rock bottom after two defeats in two games, and their punishing fixture list isn’t getting any easier. They give Sean Maitland his debut on the wing, while fellow Kiwi-cum-Scot Blair Cowan packs down on the openside. Chris Noakes is preferred to Shane Geraghty at fly-half.

The Exiles have tasted success at Allianz Park as recently as 2014, but it’s massively unlikely that we’ll see a repeat of that result this weekend with the champions having hit the ground running. Saracens by 21.

Bath Rugby vs Harlequins

Both these sides tasted defeat in the midlands last weekend, Bath going down to Wasps at the Ricoh Arena while half an hour away, Harlequins were being muscled out by the Tigers. The headline of this fixture is the return of Chris Robshaw to the Harlequins starting line-up, the beleaguered England captain taking his place on the openside – but of course not as captain, with that honour going to Danny Care this season. Tim Visser is another Scottish winger to be making his debut for a Premiership side this weekend. Bath continue with the half-back partnership of Niko Matawalu and George Ford, which once gelled will surely be one of the most potent around. Add in Eastmond, Devoto, Rokoduguni and Watson outside them, on a fast track at home, and there could be plenty of points in this game.

Bath have won three of the last four instalments of this fixture, and Harlequins have not won at the Rec – where the hosts have a fearsome recent record – since 2009. Everything points to a home win. Bath by 9.

Gloucester Rugby vs Worcester Warriors

Worcester make the short journey down the M5 to take on Gloucester in their second away game in as many weeks. They couldn’t back up their astonishing opening day win over Northampton as they were downed comprehensively at Sale – and a Gloucester team that were within a few seconds of beating Saracens last weekend represent an even sterner challenge. The hosts bring Ross Moriarty into their starting line-up, in the only change to that side. Worcester give a full debut to rampaging Fijian lock Tevita Cavubati; otherwise their line-up is the same. The battle of two snafflers – Kvesic and Mama – at the breakdown will be fascinating to watch.

The winning margin in the last seven meetings between these two sides has never been more than seven, and while they have not renewed their battle for a couple of seasons, you can expect it to be similarly tight this weekend. Gloucester by 5.

Newcastle Falcons vs Exeter Chiefs

Newcastle have avoided bottom place purely by virtue of a less bad points difference than London Irish. A promising summer has given way to two heavy losses, with a points difference of minus 81 alarmingly reminiscent of London Welsh. They are a better side than that, of course, but it is vital that they get their campaign off the ground this weekend. Standing in their way is the small matter of an Exeter Chiefs side that have already pummelled London Irish and come within a whisker of beating Bath at the Rec. Intriguingly, they leave out Jack Nowell over fears that the artificial surface at Kingston Park will exacerbate a knee problem.

Exeter have a fine record against the Falcons, although their last trip up North did result in a loss. That was back in early 2014, however, and this side looks good enough, and hungry enough, to do the business. Exeter by 6.

Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints

Sale are always a tricky proposition at the AJ Bell Stadium, as Worcester found last weekend. Worcester, of course, are the side that shocked everyone to beat Northampton on the opening weekend. Pure logic, then, would suggest that Sale are favourites for this one – but of course it is not quite as simple as that. TJ Ioane gets a start on the flank for Sale, and his gainline-busting carries will be important to a side that could face tough day at the office against a gnarled Saints pack. The visitors rotate Dylan Hartley to the bench, but Mike Haywood is a fine replacement and the locking duo of Courtney Lawes and Michael Paterson has been quick to gel.

The Sharks won this game last season, but after Northampton’s opening day shock loss to Worcester, they will be fired up and aware of falling to another upset. Northampton by 5.

Leicester Tigers vs Wasps

The Tigers are the only side other than Saracens to win both of their opening games, but it is fair to say that the new era of Aaron Mauger’s attacking gameplan has not quite come to fruition yet. It was always going to take a while to bed in, and with scores of players still missing it is unsurprising that the East Midlanders have played restrictive rugby thus far. Owen Williams completes his comeback from a horror injury by being named in the starting line-up this weekend, and will look to put the excellent Peter Betham in space. Man mountain Opeti Fonua makes his first start in the pack, while Jono Kitto and Telusa Veainu could make their debuts from the bench. The visitors give exciting scrum-half Dan Robson a go in the starting jersey, while the dangerous back row trio of Haskell, Smith and Hughes continues. There is firepower on the bench, where Ashley Johnson, Bradley Davies and Joe Simpson all wait.

There is certainly more to the Wasps team on paper, but the game is not played there and in the reality of a tense Welford Road, will they be able to escape the physical grasp of the Tigers? They have not done so since 2008 and may struggle again this weekend. Leicester by 3.

How do you see the weekend going?

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images