We’ve had a technical hitch this morning, whereby Joe Large’s usual round-up article has been lost in the ether, so whilst we sort that out to be published later, please share your own highlights from the weekend.
Here are the results from Superbru, with a few upsets shown by the low percentage that picked them, and my picks in green and red with a WP for picking the correct result and MP for being within 5.
Northampton’s win over Clermont was a big shock given their recent form, whilst most people expected Bath to beat Scarlets at the Rec having won the away leg. How were your predictions?
I was at the Stoop on Saturday for the dramatic Quins comeback, and whilst there were plenty of tries there and elsewhere over the weekend, I can’t imagine were better than this Scarlets effort against Bath on Friday night.
Trademark @scarlets_rugby ?
"From one side of Bath to the other!"
That's one of the tries of the season ? pic.twitter.com/qh21sN88Vy
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 12, 2018
How did your team get on?
Who do you think will win the Champions Cup?
Will Wasps, Saracens and Bath qualify for the knockout stages from 3rd place in their groups?
Also, whilst you’re here, I’m getting back into Instagram and shared my first photo since RWC2011 over the weekend. Give me a follow if Instagram is your thing…
We’ll get Joe’s proper article sorted and published by the end of the day hopefully.
Wasps now play Ulster at home and given their injury list I don’t fancy their chances of a BP win required to catch Uslter in the Table and overtake them based on H2H which leaves them hoping Quins win away against La Rochelle which also seems unlikely.
Sarries should win against Saints but unlikely to get a bonus point but i also expect Clermont to beat Ospreys which leaves them on 17 trying to qualify as runner up but with too low points to make it.
I think Exeter will win away against Glasgow (with nothing to play for) to qualify in second
Bath should pick up the maximum against Treviso to level them with Toulon. I think Scarlets will win at home but Toulon will pick up a bonus to take second place
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I can see Sarries scoring 4 tries against Saints – they’ve scored 57 and 55 points in their last two meetings with them, and whilst Northampton are looking much improved, Sarries have the confidence and incentive.
It still might not be enough though…
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I think that that might be wishful thinking Hutch. Saints looking a different class all of a sudden and big Billy V out again. He makes a huge difference to Sarries and England.
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Hmm… not convinced. Can they? Undoubtedly. Will they? Big debate on that.
Northampton have definitely shored themselves up in recent weeks; Clermont are not easy to bully into a loss like this weekend, and Saracens were unconvincing to me in the Ospreys game. They didn’t lose or play badly, but it didn’t look like the side that always had the answers that we have seen the past few seasons. So confidence is returning, but I would suggest it’s still a bit brittle.
Point being, it would not surprise me if they try and force the game too much vs Northampton. Either it will work, and they will get their way to another good score, or it won’t, and they’ll slip up in the hunt for that bonus point – and in that situation, incentive is as much a curse as it is a blessing.
Also, judging by the Clermont game, Northampton are trying to rebuild momentum during the ‘free’ games left in their dead-end European campaign, so they have something to roll with into the crunch premiership matches. So I’d expect them to go to Sarries ready to play.
Hopefully they won’t pull a Leicester and send a second-string… that was my big negative highlight from the weekend. I understand the pragmatism, but it was still disappointing.
We’ll see what Saints XV is chosen, and decide from there!
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Based on my final round predictions, I expect the following outcome:
1 – 27pts – Leinster
2 – 23pts – Clermont
3 – 21pts – La Rochelle, Munster, Scarlets
6 – 19pts – Exeter, Racing 92, Toulon
I’m not a sarries fan (not a hater either) but that would be a huge disappointment for the double reigning champs as well as the AP.
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The big questions – are the Premiership teams flogging their players to the point that they cannot consistently compete in Europe as they aren’t getting enough rest and how will this affect the 6N?
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Perfectly possible that no English side will progress. Its touch and go. Exeter probably have the best chance, but they will have to get 5pts and hope results elsewhere go in their favour. Saracens and Bath are in with a shout too, though even a 5pt win might not be enough.
Worrying from an England POV? A bit. Some of our teams performances have been absolutely dreadful, with few England players really standing out. The art of securing a BP, even when under severe pressure, seems to have eluded some of our sides. This is vital as the top European sides show year after year.
Playing for the national side is different but you would like to see a bit more form from our clubs and players.
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Both worrying, and extremely disappointing considering 7 English teams qualified for the group stages. The situation as it stands, with only 1 or 2 teams in with a chance of qualification to the knock out stages, is a really poor endorsement for the AP.
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Biggest low of the weekend has to be Billy getting crocked again! Will all English number eights please form an orderly cue.
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