Aviva Premiership Preview - Round 19
Only four rounds remain in the Aviva Premiership and the race for the play-offs and a top six finish is still wide open. Last week saw Sale register a narrow 15-12 win over Leeds, Harlequins crush Gloucester 53-15 and Northampton strengthen their play-off bid with an impressive 39-3 victory over Wasps.
With another explosive round of Premiership rugby due this weekend, every club will be going all out to make sure they end their campaign on a positive not.
James Jones previews this weekends fixtures and gives his predictions on their outcomes.
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Saturday 2nd April 2011
Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks - 2.30pm
Saints' dominating 39-3 win over Wasps last weekend was their biggest Premiership win for five years and they'll be pleased with their defensive display just as much as their attacking efforts. With four important games remaining and a play-off place up for grabs, Saints will want to make sure they don't get complacent against a Sale side with nothing much to play for this season.
Sale's win over Leeds last weekend ended a six match losing streak and they'll be bidding to register first back-to-back Premiership victories since November 2009. It's a tall order, though, with only one away win all season, but with hopes a top six finish over and the threat of relegation almost behind them, Sale only have pride to play for for the remainder of the season.
Prediction: Home Win
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Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons - 3pm
Gloucester's 11 match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end last weekend when they were on the wrong end of a 53-15 rout at the hands of Harlequins. That aside, they are the only remaining Premiership side with a 100% home record and they'll be using that as a psychological advantage against a Newcastle team that are 6 points above bottom placed Leeds.
Falcons lost away to Saracens last weekend and have picked up just five points on the road all season. They beat Gloucester at home back in November and will be searching for their first league double over them since 1998. This tie will also be the chance for Newcastle to gain revenge over the side that beat them in the LV= Cup final three weeks ago.
Prediction: Home Win
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Harlequins v Leicester Tigers - 5.30pm
Harlequins haven't beaten Leicester in the league since 2003, although they did run out winners in the LV= Cup when the two teams met earlier this season. They ended their three game losing streak with a crushing 53-15 over Gloucester last weekend and have lost just one game at home since December 2009. Quins sit just four points off the play-offs and a win over table toppers Leicester will set them up for an important final few rounds of the season.
Leicester registered their biggest win in 96 years against Bath last weekend and, as a result, are three points clear of Saracens at the top of the table. With just one loss in the league since round seven and with an unbeaten away record that goes all the way back to October, Tigers will fancy themselves at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday.
Prediction: Away Win
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Sunday 3rd April 2011
Saracens v Bath Rugby - 2.15pm
Saracens are currently the form team in the Premiership, taking 25 points from a possible 30 in their last six matches. With one loss in the league since November and recent important wins against Leicester and Northampton, Saries are one of the favourites to win the Aviva Premiership this season. They'll be eager to close the three point gap that Leicester hold at the top of the league and another home fixture against mid-table opposition will be the perfect place for them to continue their great form.
Bath will want to bounce back immediately from their biggest defeat in history against Leicester last Saturday. However, they remain one of the best sides away from home so far this season, with a total of 20 points taken from eight games on the road. A European place, and even a play-off spot, is still on the cards for Bath Rugby and they'll be counting on their away form to record a shock victory over one of the title favourites.
Prediction: Home Win
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Leeds Carnegie v Exeter Chiefs - 3pm
Leeds were unlucky not to have beaten Sales last Friday, but that could be the story of their season as they still occupy bottom place. They need to overturn a six point gap between them and Newcastle to ensure their Premiership status next season. Just two Premiership wins this season means the table doesn't lie, though, and they'll have to record a victory at home to Exeter otherwise relegation will almost certainly be confirmed.
Exeter have won just once away from home this season - against Newcastle in February - but still have an eye on finishing in the top six. Eight points separate them from a place in European competition next season, but with two losses from their last three outings, consistency is something they'll be searching for leading into the final stages of the season.
Prediction: Home Win
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London Irish v London Wasps - 3pm
London Irish will still fancy their chances of a play-off place following their 39-17 demolition of Exeter last weekend. They're currently fifth in the standings and just four points behind fourth placed Northampton Saints. A five match unbeaten run in all competitions puts London Irish up there as one of the Premiership's form teams and they'll need to keep it that way if they're to give themselves a chance of Premiership glory.
Wasps have won just six points from their last six games and another loss this weekend could see their hopes of a top six finish fade away. Although they sit six points a way from sixth in eighth, current form isn't working in their favour. Coupled with the fact they haven't won away from home since December, and Wasps will need to start picking up points and winning the remainder of their fixtures if they are to salvage anything from this campaign.
Prediction: Home Win
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You can follow James on Twitter at @jj2388
