Gallagher Premiership - Round Seven Preview
Chris Wyles has come out for retirement to feature for Saracens against Sale this weekend
©PA
After a brief pause in proceedings, this weekend marks the return of Gallagher Premiership Rugby and there is plenty of action to look forward to go alongside the Autumn internationals.
Friday
Gloucester Rugby vs Leicester Tigers
What a game to kick-start the Gallagher Premiership back into action. Two of England’s oldest clubs go face to face in one of two Friday night matches. Leicester’s league form coming into this is good, having won their last two fixtures, including the East Midlands derby at Twickenham.
However, in the Premiership Rugby Cup, Tigers lost all three of their matches in that competition. Tigers probably will be fielding a side not too dissimilar to their Rugby Cup squads and when you consider that Gloucester have won two of their Rugby Cup fixtures with a weakened team, it is difficult to look past the home side.
Gloucester have retained far more of their star players than Leicester. Danny Cipriani, Mark Atkinson and Jason Woodward will be lining up at Kingsholm. Added to this, the power of Ed Slater, as well as other top-quality forwards the Cherry and Whites possess, Gloucester are probably the side to bet on.
Harlequins vs Newcastle Falcons
Since the last round of Premiership fixtures, Newcastle Falcons seem to have really found their feet. Winning their two games in Europe and going unbeaten in the Premiership Cup, Falcons won at the Stoop just two weekends ago in the development competition.
It was former Quins man Tim Swiel that scored the winning points that day. Quins last win in the Premiership came away to Gloucester and their solitary home victory occurred on the opening day of the Premiership season. Having mixed fortunes in the Premiership Rugby Cup and in the Challenge Cup, Quins will have most of their stars available for Friday’s fixtures.
Falcons will also be able to field a strong squad with only a couple of their starting line-up on international duty. As this is a return to the Premiership, Quins will be fielding a much stronger squad than in previous weeks, so are probably favourites to win this match-up.
Saturday
Bath Rugby vs Worcester Warriors
Much like other sides, Bath have had a large majority of their squad depleted by international rugby. What’s concerning is that since the international period began, Bath seem to have been shown for having little depth, losing convincingly in each of their Premiership Rugby Cup ties so far.
In contrast, Worcester have been able to field a strong side throughout the Premiership Rugby Cup. With Francois Hougaard, Francois Venter and other first-team players likely to be in Warriors starting XV, it looks like the visiting team will have real firepower and experience.
Bath could see the return of key players like Freddie Burns to the starting line-up, meaning we could possibly see a more exciting home side at the Rec. However, if looking at the form of both teams coming into this game, Warriors fans will be fancying their chances away from home.
Northampton Saints vs Wasps
Another two sides bereft of many of their star players due to international rugby. Northampton Saints will be missing Dan Biggar, a player who has barely missed a minute in the Premiership so far for them this season, as well as James Haskell due to injury.
Similarly, Wasps will be without star men such as Elliot Daly and Willie Le Roux, but still have the services of Lima Sopoaga available. Going into this game, it would seem that Wasps have the better depth out of the two sides, although Saints recently beat their visitors in their own back yard in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
There was only one point in it that afternoon, with James Grayson scoring the winning conversion to give Saints a win on the road. Wasps haven’t won any of their Premiership Rugby Cup games over the past weekends, but they are likely to turn things up a notch as the Prem returns.
Saracens vs Sale Sharks
The last time that Saracens were beaten by Sale was all the way back in 2011, although coming into this game, Sale have only lost once in the last six fixtures. One of these games even came at Welford Road as they narrowly defeated Leicester Tigers on their own patch.
The two sides drew against one another just two weekends ago at the AJ Bell, but a trip to the Allianz is never an easy one. Possibly the key to Sarries success in recent years has been the impressive squad depth that they have throughout their squad and the return of Chris Wyles, who has come out for retirement for this weekend, is also an added bonus for Mark McCall's men.
As for Sale, they have retained a good chunk of their stars. James O’Connor, Robert du Preez and Rohan Janse van Rensburg are all likely to start for the Sharks. This fixture is interesting, because a lot of Sarries squad players won’t have lots of Premiership experience, whereas Sale have a wide range of quality players throughout their side.
Bristol Bears vs Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs don’t seem to have skipped a beat in the Premiership Cup, really proving the strength in depth that they possess. Added to this, the recent signing of Stuart Hogg means the glow around Sandy Park doesn’t seem to be leaving any time soon.
Meanwhile, Bristol have had mixed fortunes in the Premiership Rugby Cup after losing heavily to Northampton, before wins against Wasps and Gloucester, Bristol have welcomed Charles Piutau, finally, into the starting line-up with the former All Black impressing in a Bears shirt so far this season.
Exeter are undoubtedly the favourites for this fixture. Runners-up in the Premiership last season, they have hardly put a foot wrong so far in domestic competition. Bristol’s start has been patchy to say the least, so it is likely the side with more consistency will win this one.
