Aviva Premiership: Week 11 Preview
Thursday 22 December 2011
Aviva Premiership: Week 11 Preview
A busy Christmas schedule sees Bath travel to Franklins Gardens in search of some early festive cheer, whilst the top two square off at the Stoop with Quins heroes of the battle of Toulouse hosting champions Saracens.
Saturday
Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby 15:15
The final Premiership game this side of Christmas sees two sides looking to put their European woes behind them as struggling Bath travel to Northampton on Christmas Eve.
After losing their first three matches of the Heineken Cup, Saints regained some dignity “ and showed what they are capable of “ with their 45-0 hammering of Castres.
Bath are without a win since their closely fought victory over Montpellier, and with poor defeats to Worcester and Sale hanging over their heads, they are in danger of losing touch with the pack of teams wrestling over third place. If the West Country side can play the kind of rugby they played against Leinster at the Rec two weeks ago, there is every chance they can pull off a victory over the Saints, and even to progress higher up the table, but the odds will be against Bath as Northampton look to press on in their own run up the table. Saints by 5.
Monday
Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons 14:30
Victory away to Bath, and two strong wins against French side Agen leaves Sale in a strong position heading into their Boxing Day fixture against the struggling Newcastle Falcons.
Things have been looking up recently for the Falcons, with a hard-fought 6-3 victory over Toulon and a narrow win against Gloucester in two of their last three matches. They still find themselves several points adrift at the foot of the table, and given Sale's run it will be hard for the Falcons to gain anything more than a losing bonus point. Sale by 7.
Gloucester Rugby v Wasps 15:00
Gloucester have certainly made entertaining “ if heartstopping “ viewing this season involved as they have been in several tight games. Unfortunately, more often than not they have been on the losing side of late, and two very tight victories over Irish minnows Connacht cannot have been good for the nerves of those in the Shed. Their defeat to lowly Newcastle in round 10 made it just one win in five games and Gloucester will be desperate to get back to winning ways and give their fans a belated Christmas present.
Wasps similarly are stuck in a rut, with a solitary victory in their last four Premiership matches, although a decent run in the second-tier Challenge Cup may give them the edge needed to inflict a seventh defeat of the season against their hosts. Wasps by 3.
Tuesday
London Irish v Exeter Chiefs 13:20
Fourth place hosts third place as London Irish welcome the high flying Exeter Chiefs on Tuesday. Five wins in their last five games, including back-to-back victories over Welsh outfit Newport Gwent Dragons has put Exeter in good stead in Europe, as well as at the head of the gaggle of sides trailing Harlequins and Saracens at the top of the Premiership table.
Despite struggling in Europe, Irish are looking strong in the league, level on points with their visitors largely due to the boot of the ever-reliable Tom Homer who has almost single-handedly lead the Irish charge this season. Exeter took a stunning away victory last time out in the Premiership, but it will take an even greater feat if they are to repeat the result at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday. London Irish by more than 3.
Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers 14:00
It is likely to be one way traffic at Sixways as the Tigers visit Worcester on Tuesday. Worcester have taken some confidence boosting victories against the lesser sides of Europe, but a couple of decent performances aside “ including their victory over Bath three weeks ago “ the promoted side have struggled this season.
Leicester's season is finally turning around. It was always inevitable that the English giants would begin to roar, but no-one would have expected it to take as long as it has done. Victory over Northampton last time out gave a fair judgement of where the Tigers are at the moment, and it will take a stronger side than Worcester to slow last season's finalists down in their current run of form. Leicester by more than 7.
Harlequins v Saracens 16:30
The top two sides in the Premiership will wrap up 2011 at the Stoop, in what promises to be an exciting encounter between Harlequins and Saracens. Quins incredible run of wins was brought to an end by Toulouse two weeks ago, but the Premiership's form side had the sheer audacity to travel to the French giants, and show them up on their own front door.
Two strong showings against the Ospreys has put Sarries in charge of their pool in the Heineken Cup, but they are some way off their hosts in the Premiership. Even with over half the matches still to play, it seems that the home play-off places are all but decided, it is just a matter of if Sarries can topple Quins at the top. The gap is nine points, and a victory for Sarries on Tueday will cut a large chunk out of Quins' lead.
Two immense encounters followed by a tough game against Sarries may prove to be too much for the Harlequins, but if they can play the sort of exciting rugby that they have done so far all season, there's no reason why they can't make it eleven out of eleven in the league. Harlequins by 5.
