Aviva Premiership: Round 5 Preview - European Success

After such a successful European weekend with 12 out of 14 victories across both competitions the expectations are high heading into Round 5 of the Aviva Premiership.

The Northampton Saints will kick off proceedings underneath their Friday night lights against Gloucester Rugby. The Saints recorded two confidence boosting European wins and will be further boosted by the fact that this week George North signed on the dotted line and Victor Matfield arrived in town. All of these factors should result in a positive mood at Franklin’s Gardens and Jim Mallinder’s men must use this to fuel their performance. Gloucester Rugby are fielding their own new signing as Jeremy Thrush will make his debut for the club and Jonny May returns after missing out on the past two weeks in Europe. The Cherry and Whites have not beaten Northampton since September 2013 however they will feel much more confident heading to Franklin’s Gardens this time around than they did in the opening round last year and will be looking to erase a few memories.

On Saturday the AJ Bell Stadium opens its doors as the Sale Sharks will host the Newcastle Falcons. Sale have won their last three Aviva Premiership contests with the Newcastle Falcons and will be confident that they can deliver a fourth on home soil. Dean Richards’ is handing sevens convert Marcus Watson with his first Aviva Premiership start after scoring four of the side’s nine tries against Enisei-STM last weekend. Steve Diamond has named familiar and strong looking side for this weekend’s match and personally I’m looking forward to watching their back rows dual. Nili Latu has been one of Falcons’ shining lights to date and the trio of Dan Braid, Magnus Lund and Josh Beaumont is always powerful one for the home side.

In Devon the Sandy Park faithful are in for a cracker between the Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins. Both sides love to play with ball in hand and have started strongly domestically and in Europe, excluding Exeter's’ Liberty Stadium error. After his barnstorming performance in the Challenge Cup Dave Ward is handed the 7 jersey in Harlequins’ back row and will line up alongside Chris Robshaw and Nick Easter. Elsewhere Mike Brown will make his 250th appearance for the visitors being only the second player in the club’s history to do so. Rob Baxter’s side looks largely familiar to the one that has delivered such impressive performances in the opening four rounds of the competition. Thomas Waldrom is handed the eight jersey, Henry Slade moves back into the centres after his outing at fly-half last weekend and captain Jack Yeandle starts at hooker. The Chiefs have recorded just two home defeats in 14 months however Conor O’Shea’s side don’t mind disrupting longstanding home records, just ask Bath Rugby.

At Twickenham Stadium the annual double header fixture arrives in town and the first match is between Saracens and the Worcester Warriors. Saracens were hugely impressive in Europe delivering comprehensive victories over Toulouse and Ulster. As expected Mark McCall has mixed things up from a selection perspective and is handing starts to Ben Ransom, Ben Spencer and Juan Figallo. After announcing his retirement earlier in the month Ernst Joubert will play his final professional match starting at eight and joins up with Will Fraser and Kelly Brown. The Worcester Warriors’ first choice starting XV were rested last weekend so Dean Ryan has a full contingent available for their first ever run out at Twickenham Stadium. Cooper Vuna and Bryce Heem will give Saracens much to think about out wide alongside the brilliant Chris Pennell and a man that always performs strongly against Saracens, Phil Dowson, will led the charge for the designated away team.

The second fixture of the double header is between London Irish and Wasps. Wasps enjoyed two tremendous weeks in Europe however their historic victories came at a cost as hooker Carlo Festuccia fractured his cheekbone and Christian Wade sustained a foot injury meaning he’ll be out for a 2-3 months.  That said Dai Young’s side remains strong; Sailosi Tagicakibau  will line up against his former club, Ruaridh Jackson continues to hold onto the 10 shirt in spite of Jimmy Gopperth being available for selection against and James Haskell will captain the side. Tom Coventry has the luxury of starting Rugby World Cup winner Ben Franks for the first time in his front row, Joe Trayfoot, Blair Cowan and Ofisa Treviranus form an industrious back row and he has handed the captaincy to Matt Symons in the second row.

The final game of the weekend is at Welford Road where the Leicester Tigers will host Bath Rugby. The fruits of Aaron Major’s labour have been noticeable as Leicester are now showing the ability to punch holes through oppositions’ defences. The man that turned so many heads on his debut against Stade Francais, Brendon O’Connor, starts in the seven jersey and will be tested against the experienced Francois Louw - its a breakdown battle that I cannot wait to see!! In Tigers’ back line Matt Smith and Peter Bethan will form a strong centre partnership and one that will face off against Kyle Eastmond and Matt Banahan who will be making his 200th Bath appearance. The Tigers have won their last 9 Aviva Premiership matches at Welford Road however have only been victorious in one of their last seven matches against Bath in all tournaments. Personally I’m expecting a feisty and high tempo affair to finish off the Aviva Premiership weekend.