Exeter Chiefs vs Gloucester Rugby

Exeter’s loss in the previous round to Northampton has not affected their league position, as they continue to sit pretty in second. The Chiefs are unbeaten at home in 12 months, but the last side to beat them at Sandy Park was in fact their West Country rivals Gloucester, who triumphed 26-25 in an absolute nail-biter that ended with Gareth Steenson’s conversion ricocheting agonisingly off the post. Steenson has the chance to right that wrong, named as he is in a backline that also includes Jack Nowell in the number 13 shirt. The Cherry and Whites have recalled Ben Morgan and Greig Laidlaw to a strong looking team, while Matt Kvesic will be looking to capitalise on the undoubted buzz around his chances of claiming the England number seven shirt soon.

Gloucester have been flying somewhat under the radar this year but have only lost one game more than Exeter. This will be a tight one (three of the last four meetings between the sides have been settled by fewer than three points) and despite Gloucester winning their last two games at Sandy Park, I can see title hopefuls the Chiefs returning to winning ways. Exeter by 3.

Harlequins vs Saracens

Are Harlequins the side to finally halt the relentless Saracens juggernaut? It will take some performance, even on their home turf. Certainly, they will have to avoid switching off as they did last weekend, when they allowed to Worcester to put 17 points on them in the second half, even if they did hang on for the win. Much will depend on how well they can defend up front – Saracens scored three penalty tries against the Tigers from mauls and scrums last weekend. It is not an area of historic strength for Quins, although with Adam Jones and James Horwill this season they have certainly seemed more assured. Marland Yarde and Chris Ashton are both gunning for a space on the wing in Eddie Jones’s England, while Jack Clifford must prove he can better Billy Vunipola if he is to make good on his undoubted potential. Will Fraser against Luke Wallace is another battle worth watching, both players in with a shout of being Jones’s ‘fetcher’.

Quins are having a fine season but to be honest, despite the fact they will undoubtedly slip up at some stage, you’d be fool to predict anything other than a Sarries win at the moment. Saracens by 6.

Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints

After resting players for their trip to Allianz park in the last round and duly receiving a brutal pummelling, Richard Cockerill knows his team have to win this one as they return to what looks like as strong a line-up as he can name. The devastating Telusa Veianu continues at fullback, while Owen Williams and Matt Smith will pull the strings in midfield. Mat Tait joins Smith in the centres, and they will have their hands full opposite a powerful Saints partnership that sees George North move to 13 alongside Luther Burrell. But realistically it will be up front where the game is won. Northampton have been disjointed this season but their muscular pack has remained a weapon, while the Tigers conceded three penalty tries up front last weekend – not words I thought I’d ever write. They do welcome back some of their stars of the season, however: Youngs, Fitzgerald, O’Connor and McCaffrey all start. For Saints, Mikey Heywood continues to consign Dylan Hartley to a bench spot, while prospect Paul Hill will face a stern examination of his potential on the tighthead opposite Marcos Ayerza.

The Tigers’ loss to Saracens was disappointing but back at Welford Road with a much-changed side, they should have too much for a Saints side that has struggled to fire on all cylinders of late. Leicester by 9.

London Irish vs Newcastle Falcons

And so we come to what in wendyball parlance would be a ‘relegation six-pointer’. The winner will make ground on Worcester in 10th, while the loser will be left rock bottom of the table. Both sides have assertive wins to their name of late, London Irish turning over Northampton and very nearly doing the same to Gloucester, and Newcastle downing Bath at Kingston Park. The hosts make two changes to the side that lost at Kingsholm, Topsy Ojo returning at fullback and Jebb Sinclair taking Blair Cowan’s spot in the back row. Newcastle will look to old Exile Marcus Watson to make a difference on the wing; their only changes are in the front row where internationals Scott Lawson and Paddy Ryan start.

It should be some game to watch, as both sides know just how important a win will be. Irish have been showing signs of real improvement of late; Newcastle have too, although their win over Bath was arguably more down to their opponents’ ineptitude than anything else. Home advantage to swing it. London Irish by 2.

Wasps vs Worcester Warriors

The final game of the weekend sees the two out-of-form sides do battle. Wasps have lost their last three in the league; Worcester’s unsuccessful run extends to four. After a bright start, the Warriors are struggling and another loss here will leave them looking nervously over their shoulders at the trapdoor. Wasps, despite fine European form, have faltered in the league; home losses to Exeter and Saracens preceded a fairly dour performance up in Salford. With Bath and Sale out of action, they desperately need a win that would heave them up the table. Wasps name two new wingers in Tagicakibau and Josh Bassett, while Edd Shervington and Kearnan Myall start with a view to shoring up the lineout. Worcester show four enforced changes, all in the backs; a new and inexperienced half-back partnership of Charlie Mulchrone and Ryan Mills, with Andy Symons in the centre and Tom Biggs replacing Bryce Heem on the wing.

Wasps are a better side than their league position would suggest, but there is a bloody-mindedness about this Worcester side (stemming from Dean Ryan, of course) that means this will be anything but a gimme. Nevertheless, the home side should have enough for a win. Wasps by 7.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images