Fisher laments failure to convert

Gloucester head coach Laurie Fisher believes his side's failure to convert close games into victories is the main contributing factor to their current Aviva Premiership position of ninth place.

Gloucester head to west country rivals Exeter Chiefs on Saturday but have won just once in their previous six matches.

Now 12 points adrift of the fourth play-off place occupied by Exeter, Fisher admits he is disappointed with the campaign, which is now halfway complete.

"We are obviously disappointed with where we are in the table," Fisher said.

"It has come about because of our inability to close out close games. That's our challenge in the second half of the season, to turn those close games into wins.

"We finished the game strongly against them (Exeter) at home earlier in the season and had a real opportunity to close that game out, which we didn't take.

"Our major concern is about ourselves, so we haven't made too much of the fact that they've lost their last two games. Except that they are probably hungry for a win at home.

"We need to be disciplined, to get on the right side of the referee, to make sure all those things are in place. We have to ensure that we're squeaky clean in everything we do."

Meanwhile, despite losing their last two matches - against Sale and Bath - Exeter remain in the title play-off zone.

They lead Leicester by by two points and the clash with Gloucester will be their 100th Premiership game since gaining top-flight status.

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter said: "We've never had this many points at the halfway stage, but all you are fighting for at this stage of the season is to give yourself a chance to be in some big games at the end of the season.

"We are very much aware of that, and we have said we now have two games before the next European break where we have to get points if you want to be hanging in and around the top four.

"We are under what you would say is positive pressure, and we want to put pressure on ourselves to stay at the top end. Gloucester, I suppose, are under a different pressure to get results and start climbing the league.

"It's not like previous years where we have been the team fighting to prove ourselves all the time. Now, we have to move beyond that and we have to fight to show we are a good side who want to be at the right end of the table."

Saturday's other Premiership clash is at Allianz Park, where third-placed Saracens host London Irish.

"We are under no illusions of the task in front of us, and it is not made any easier by the fact we have 12 players unavailable for selection," Irish rugby director Brian Smith said.

"Saracens are a well-drilled side and are full of internationals. However, we have had a good record against them of late, and we will go to Allianz Park looking to continue that."

On Sunday, Bath head to Welford Road to take on Leicester, and the home side will be desperate to avenge the 45-0 hammering they received in September.

Bath are unbeaten in five and are chasing a first Premiership double over Leicester since the 2003-04 season.

Rugby league recruit Sam Burgess makes a first Premiership start for Bath, featuring at outside centre with Paul James, David Wilson and Dave Attwood all returning.

Leicester welcome back Blaine Scully, Anthony Allen and Graham Kitchener from injury.

Wasps host Sale at the Ricoh Arena where a crowd of 15,000 is expected for their second game in Coventry and bottom club London Welsh entertain Harlequins.

Welsh are currently 14 points adrift of safety but head coach Jason Burnell said:

"There is nobody in our environment burying their head in the sand.

"It's about rolling our sleeves up, continuing to work hard and continuing to look for that first win."