Gloucester Rugby vs Sale Sharks
Sale have an excellent recent history in this fixture, having won four of the last five instalments. Gloucester’s sole win, however, came at Kingsholm last season, and home advantage will likely see them enter this one as favourites. Their scrum was obliterated by Northampton last weekend, but the Sharks will not pose the same physical challenge and if the game opens up, the Cherry and Whites have the firepower to punish their visitors. Intriguingly, the hosts swap James Hook and Billy Twelvetrees, the former moving to 10 and the latter shifting to 12. For Sale, the impressive Josh Beaumont returns from injury and Peter Stringer gets a rare start in the number nine shirt.
These two will be mid-table battlers this season, and there isn’t a great deal of change between them. Home advantage swings it for me. Gloucester by 5.
Harlequins vs London Irish
London Irish showed some nice touches in defeat against Wasps last time out, with centre Jonny Williams continuing his revelatory season with a brace. The trouble is, ‘nice touches in defeat’ has pretty much defined their season so far – sitting as they are, on zero points from five games. Panic will not have set in yet, but they could desperately do with a win from somewhere to take them into the new year. Harlequins, meanwhile, look like the team that won the title in 2012, not the side that has been in the doldrums since. They should have beaten Exeter at Sandy Park, playing much the better rugby – not many teams go down there and can say that. Quins make three personnel changes to that side – Dave Ward reverts to hooker with Luke Wallace on the flank, Adam Jones returns on the tighthead and Olly Lindsey-Hague is named on the wing. Irish also ring the changes, Canadian internationalist Ciaran Hearn making his first start in the centres, while Gerard Ellis, Jebb Sinclair, David Sisi, Luke Narraway, Darren Allinson and Eoin Griffin all start also.
London Irish haven’t really looked like causing an upset yet this season, and as Harlequins continue to impress it’s unlikely to happen at the Stoop. Harlequins by 15.
Worcester Warriors vs Leicester Tigers
Leicester’s win over Bath last weekend was billed as their doggedness overcoming Bath’s desire to play running rugby, in conditions that suited the former rather than the latter. Indeed, their try count of six in five games would seem to attest to that. But there is more to their game this season than meets the eye – Aaron Mauger has empowered the players to play heads up rugby, and when it clicks into gear (which it will at some stage), the tries will flow again. Worcester, meanwhile, have proved a pleasant surprise, and having beaten Northampton at Sixways on the opening night, they will hold no fear of taking on another Midlands giant. The Tigers welcome Owen Williams and Niki Goneva back from injury, while the sublime Mike Williams will be looking to get one over his old club. The hosts are captained by ex-Saint Phil Dowson, while Tom Heathcote will again look to unleash the dangerous trio of Heem, Vuna and Pennell.
Worcester are no pushovers and the Tigers will know this. Whether the visitors remain committed to their new style of play or not, I expect their pack to be too strong for the Warriors and that alone will be enough to get them the win. Leicester by 5.
Bath Rugby vs Northampton Saints
Two title contenders do battle at the Rec this weekend with neither side where they wanted to be after five games. Indeed, they have just two wins apiece, and the loser of this game will go into Christmas in the bottom half of the table. Both have suffered something of a World Cup hangover, although there are signs that they are returning to their usual selves – Northampton’s relentless physicality beating Gloucester into a pulp, and Bath’s willingness to throw the ball around no matter the conditions at Leicester. The hosts welcome back their diamond in the midfield, Jonathan Joseph, who is partnered by Ollie Devoto, while Nick Auterac and Henry Thomas, impressive both in recent weeks, will face another stern test from the beefy Saints front five. Foden captains the visitors, while intriguingly, summer signing and Irish maverick JJ Hanrahan is given the reigns at 10 ahead of Stephen Myler.
Hanrahan’s selection suggests Saints are willing to go toe to toe with Bath in playing a wider game, but the West Country side are much more accustomed to playing in that manner. Bath have, incredibly, not beaten the Saints since 2008. That will change on Saturday. Bath by 5.
Wasps vs Exeter Chiefs
This should be a humdinger in Coventry – and a game that Eddie Jones will have a keen eye on (or recorded, if he’s still wrangling with visa issues). For Wasps, Elliot Daly and James Gaskell can press their claims, while Joe Simpson and Nathan Hughes are rotated to the bench. Meanwhile Exeter’s Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Sam Hill and Geoff Parling will all be looking to impress the new England head honcho. Exeter have not lost since the opening weekend, and have scored league points in every game, while Wasps have done the same in all but one, and won their last two.
This fixture last season was an absolute corker, Joe Simpson’s try of the season giving Wasps a 36-29 win. With some of the talent on show, expect more of the same this weekend – again, home advantage sways my prediction. Wasps by 4.
Newcastle Falcons vs Saracens
Newcastle registered their first points with a gritty draw away at Sale last weekend, but will need to up their performance level several notches on Sunday. They host the only unbeaten team in Europe in Saracens, with the North Londoners enjoying the wide expanses of Twickenham last weekend and running tries in for fun against Worcester. The champions name Jamie George as captain, fresh from signing a new contract, in a pack that also includes young English lights Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Jackson Wray and Will Fraser. Ben Spencer is rewarded for his Twickenham heroics with another start, while Nick Tompkins, Mike Ellery and Alex Goode are all injected into the backline. The hosts, meanwhile, give a debut to Bellisario Agulla on the wing, while Tom Catterick takes the reigns at fly-half from Mike Delany.
The last three instalments of this fixture have, in fact, been immensely tight affairs, with Saracens triumphing by margins of 5, 2 and 5. The way they have roared out of the blocks this season, however, makes me think that will be much larger this weekend. Saracens by 21.
| Hosie | Hutch | |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucester v Sale | Gloucester by 5 | Gloucester by 5 |
| Harlequins v London Irish | Quins by 15 | Quins by 8 |
| Worcester v Leicester | Leicester by 6 | Leicester by 13 |
| Bath v Northampton | Bath by 3 | Bath by 2 |
| Wasps v Exeter | Wasps by 4 | Wasps by 2 |
| Newcastle v Saracens | Saracens by 21 | Saracens by 23 |
How do you see the weekend going? Leave your thoughts below.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
Margins aside, haven’t gone against any of those in my Superbru predictions, grand slam points all round then! And a small yay to the fact that JJ is back from injury, I havent seen all of the Bath games but we do seem to have been missing his presence so far!
Looking forwards to the scrum battle in the Bath v Saints game. Two sides who have been very dominant at scrum time in recent weeks going toe to toe.
Yes, should be good. Auterac vs Brookes. Thomas vs E Waller
Even the bench match ups look tasty – Lahiff and Wilson for Bath and A Waller and Paul Hill for Saints
Should learn a lot from this match!
Yes definitely.
Saints Tightheads vs Bath Looseheads look like the best battleground Brookes and Autrac have been fantastic last 2/3 weeks.
Slightly surprised that Ethan starts over Alex but there isn’t a lot to choose between the two brothers
The Bath v Saints game will be interesting. Burrell (I assume he’s playing?) vs Devoto is a great match up.
Anyone else think Devoto could be a different option for the England 12 shirt? He’s a big lad with good carrying ability, but also the skills of a good 10.
yes he has certainly got potential but I don’t think he is ready yet. Still need to add some consistency to his game at the moment he reminds me more of Billy Twelvetrees than Matt Giteau
Its almost a bit furstrating with Devoto, he has been getting plenty of opportunities over the last 12 months with either injury or international duty meaning there has been plenty of starts available in the centre at the rec but doesn’t seem to be making the most of them?
When was the last time he got a start at 12? Plenty of opportunities to play 10, 15, 13 etc, but not so many at 12, which is where he’s always looked at his best. And JJ is the leader of Baths backline defence, so any time he’s not present, it’s going to be really tough on his replacement.
I am impressed with the way Saracens having been bringing their young talent through and giving them lots more gametime without impacting on performance. From the established early 20’s like Kruis, George, Fraser, Spencer and the Vunipolas to the young guns fresh out of the U20s RWC winning teams like Itoje and Tomkins who are are a big part of the future for England
Saw an interesting interview with Jamie Goerge today. He was saying how great it is that the guys who are now starting regularly like himself, Wray, Fraser, Kruis all came through the academy together and know each other so well. They have a real understanding of each other on the pitch.
As a Sarries fan it is refreshing to see. We’ve been labelled with the tag of wage cap breachers for quite a while, but for me it’s not the big names that I enjoy seeing play (not so many of them there these days). It’s guys like these coming through the academy and proving themselves on the big stage.
Bath actually last beat Saints in the Premiership in 2011. That’s our only win since 2008, though.
All the chat about Devoto has suddenly got more interesting as slade is possibly out the 6n with a broken leg – I think slade is the perfect guy to build the future England backline around at 12, however he has no direct like-for-like replacement. Devoto is maybe the closest, dark horse for a call up?
Or stick with a basher (Tuilagi/Burrell/hill) at 12 and go silky ball player at 13 – Joseph or Daly?
Bloody typical isn’t it. Was really looking fwd to seeing Slade in the 6n.
Options for a ball playing 12:
Farrell? Would prefer him at 10 tbh
Eastmond? Would he and JJ or Daly be robust enough at international level?
Devoto? Is he ready?
12t? Seems to be going backwards at a rate of knots.
Have I missed anyone?
I’d probably go for Farrell at 12 with Cips at 10. Either that or Farrell with Devoto.
Never been a fan of Eastmond and I don’t think Twelvetrees deserves another shot over the potential of seeing what Devoto can do.
Real shame for Slade – such a talent. Before he got injured his passing game stretched the Wasps defence in a way that Leinster or Toulon could not.
We’ve tried Farrell at 12 several times and it doesn’t work. Can’t we just pick a bosh 12 (probably Burrell) and JJ outside him
Why doesn’t it work? Farrell has played at 12 for England twice. Once against Samoa in the Autumn when it worked very well. His vision from 12 created a cross field try.
The other time was the dead rubber in the WC where he was with stupidly surrounded by more playmakers.
Put him and Ford with 4 good runners from 13-15 and they will undoubtedly cause damage.
bit of left field thinking : Matt TaIt or Cips?
U missed Brad Barritt ????
No I didn’t! Either of the two players I picked could do a job there but I’m only playing devils advocate. Hopefully Cips will be in the squad but,talented though he is,I think Tait’s England days are over.