Gallagher Premiership - Round Five Preview
Tom Cruse will start for Wasps against Newcastle Falcons on Friday night
©PA
The final round of fixtures for September are upon us and there are some intriguing games across the weekend. Joe Harvey previews the action for TRU.
Friday
Newcastle Falcons vs Wasps
Kingston Park is the place to be yet again on Friday night, with the BT Sport cameras rocking up to broadcast from the ground for a second successive weekend.
Last season, this corresponding fixture was an eight try thriller with Danny Cipriani running the show alongside Willie Le Roux and Elliot Daly, helping to solidify Wasps’ third place finish and confirming that Falcons would end the season in fourth.
So far this term, the two clubs have had contrasting fortunes. Wasps sit third after the first four rounds of competition, whilst Falcons are down in tenth, having won just the one game this season.
In comparison, Wasps have won three and only lost just the once so far. Picking up an impressive victory at the AJ Bell last weekend, Wasps look much better than they did after the opening two weeks and Lima Sopoaga has fitted in seamlessly since being handed a starting berth by Dai Young.
What will be interesting to see is how Sopoaga fares on the artificial surface up at Kingston Park. There aren’t too many of those surfaces in southern hemisphere rugby and none in international rugby, so it will be interesting to see if the former All Black is phased by this new challenge.
The travelling side have made six changes to their team that played at Sale last weekend. Nathan Hughes, Dan Robson and Elliot Daly drop to the bench as Juan De Jong, Joe Simpson and Ben Morris all start. This would seemingly be as a result of the prior three being involved with England during the week.
In addition to this, Marcus Watson returns to Kingston Park once more, replacing Christian Wade on the wing. Rob Miller comes in for Willie Le Roux who will be playing for the Springboks and finally Tom Cruse rotates with Tommy Taylor at hooker.
Falcons’ changes, in comparison, are minor. Sinoti Sinoti and Vereniki Goneva come back on the wings as Goneva’s fellow Fijian international, Tevita Cavubati, comes in at lock. Other than that, Falcons have brought USA international Paul Mullen onto the bench after he played well in the Premiership Shield on Monday night.
It would seem like this game is going to be decided by the strength of each sides bench. It would certainly seem that Wasps is this side at the moment with the better depth as they can call on Elliot Daly, Nathan Hughes and Dan Robson so Dai Young will be secretly fancying his chances on Friday night.
Saturday
Bristol Bears vs Northampton Saints
The impressive thing about Bristol is that their losses in the second and third rounds don’t see to have dampened morale at Ashton Gate. The Bears ground out a result against Harlequins, with Ian Madigan kicking the home side to victory last weekend.
On the other hand, Northampton weren’t too far away from a result last Saturday when they played Bath at the Rec. All that stood between Saints and a draw was a Dan Biggar conversion, but unfortunately, all the Wales international could do was hit the uprights handing victory to their hosts.
So far this season, Northampton sit in 11th place, just one point ahead of bottom side Sale. If they were to lose this weekend, it could mean that the Saints are in a dog fight for the rest of the season, meaning a lot less enjoyable rugby.
On paper, it is Northampton who have the much better side, but as we have seen so far this season, on paper means nothing in the Bears’ back yard. Suffocating both Harlequins and Bath at Ashton gate this season, Bristol haven’t given up much at home.
Seemingly more defensively astute when on their own turf, as well as more disciplined, it is really difficult to suggest that Northampton will win this game.
Exeter Chiefs vs Worcester Warriors
Exeter failed to get a winning bonus point for the first-time last Friday on their trip to Falcons. In addition to this, they were forced to kick their first penalty of the season, but they still managed to get an impressive win nonetheless.
Their visitors to Sandy Park this week are Worcester, fresh from their heroics at Welford Road and only wanting to better last Sunday’s result. Duncan Weir was by far the best player in the last round as the Scottish fly-half’s performance made Tigers look extremely average and Warriors fans will be hoping for a similar display this weekend.
The fear for Worcester is that they’ll be carrying a hangover from their win last weekend. If this is the case, then it could be a very long afternoon for Alan Solomons’ men. On the other hand. Exeter will be feeling comfortable back at Sandy Park.
Very rarely losing on home turf, Chiefs are probably going to be victorious in this game. Jack Nowell will most likely be returning to the starting line-up after sitting out last weekend’s game at Falcons. Worcester did have a really good win at Leicester, but Exeter at home is a completely different kettle of fish.
Gloucester Rugby vs Harlequins
Gloucester come into this game after a disappointing weekend away at Saracens’ Allianz Park. The Cherry and Whites looked three steps behind their hosts in every aspect of the game. Jake Polledri was nullified by Maro Itoje and they only sprung into life once Brad Barritt had left the field.
So, it would be fair to say that Gloucester will be keen to put in a good performance on their return to Kingsholm. At home this season, Glaws have won both games, the crowd coming into play as you would expect.
Quins don’t enjoy their trips away, having only won three in the past year or so. Therefore, it is difficult to tip them for this one. Something that is for certain is that Prem fans will be seeing much more of Joe Marler in a quartered shirt for years to come.
The now former-England prop announced his retirement from international rugby on Wednesday, much to the surprise of virtually everyone who casts their eye over the sport. Long-term, Quins will benefit from Marler’s international retirement, but right now, they will be keen to stop the rot on their travels.
It has to be Gloucester for this game, largely because, if they are to be taken seriously as a top four contending side, then they have to win after a lacklustre day at Sarries last weekend.
Saracens vs Bath Rugby
Saracens at home is always a frightening prospect for a visiting team. The champions tend to do number on whoever is visiting them. Last were, Gloucester were their latest victims after their resounding victory over Bristol in their only other home game.
Bath’s fortunes have changed in recent times though. The side have won their last two games, perhaps not in the most convincing of fashion, but they have been victorious all the same. It would seem that the introduction of Freddie Burns and Luke Charteris have had an influence on the side, resulting in Todd Blackadder signing a one-year extension.
Saracens lost a number of their playing staff to the England training camp this week, added to this Vincent Koch is on international duty with South Africa, leaving Sarries a bit short in the tighthead department following injury to Juan Figallo a couple of weeks ago.
Regardless of this, Saracens’ forwards have been so much more impressive than their opponents so far this season. Michael Rhodes has quietly gone about his business at openside flanker as the number eight and blindside have been rotated regularly.
Bath seem to be struggling to nail down who their best side is, added to this the fact that Saracens are so strong at home, means that the champions are by far the favourites.
Sunday
Leicester Tigers vs Sale Sharks
It does seem like a case of one step forward and two steps back for Leicester so far this season. Their loss at home to Worcester came as a surprise to many and their main objective this Sunday will be to rectify their embarrassment from last weekend.
Sale have their own mistakes to amend too. Bottom of the table going into the fifth round of fixtures, this may be Sharks’ best opportunity to go to Welford Road and get a result. It actually seems like Sale have a problem that plagued Worcester up until this season.
Mercurial scrum-half Faf De Klerk’s absence whilst on international duty with the Springboks makes the men from Manchester look off the pace and they have difficulty getting the ball out wide quick enough.
This will be a really interesting game because it is so difficult to call. Both sides lost last weekend and it’s tough to see past that. Leicester have conceded the most points in the league, whilst Sale have scored the second least. This one is up to the rugby gods.
