Aviva Premiership: Week 12 Preview

The New Year's weekend will see a full complement of fixtures in the Aviva Premiership as all twelve sides look to celebrate the New Year with some on-field fireworks.

 

Saturday

Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints 14:00

Basement side Newcastle welcome a resurgent Northampton side that has lost just once in the last six games. The Falcons are six point s adrift of eleventh placed Worcester and the gap could be greater, were it not for the Warriors' equally poor run.

Northampton have regained the form that saw them finish inside the top four last season despite some awful showings in Europe. The Saints will again be without prolific winger Chris Ashton as he continues to serve his four week ban.

Ashton is at the centre of speculation over his future at the club, and it appears that come the end of the season, he may no longer be plying his trade at Franklins Gardens. The good news for Saints fans is that fellow international Dylan Hartley has just signed a contract extension that will see him remain at the club until 2015.

Conditions may play into the Falcons hands, but it should be the Saints that soar higher at Kingston Park on Saturday. Saints by 7.

 

Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins 15:45

Exeter have proven so far that last season they were not a one hit wonder as they continue to mix it with the big boys of English rugby. Last week the Chiefs were as high as third, but defeat to London Irish has seen the south west side drop to eighth, testament to just how close the fight for the play-off places will be this season.

Harlequins will head to Sandy Park on Saturday fresh from their first league defeat of the season. This may spell disaster for Exeter, following Quins response to their defeat to Toulouse in the Heineken Cup.

The Chiefs shouldn't be written off, they have taken more than their fair share of scalps this season, but such has been the consummate form of Quins this season, it will take a lot to stop them returning to winning ways as 2011 comes to a close. Quins by 5.

 

Sunday

Bath Rugby v London Irish 13:30

Bath have begun to lose their way a little this season. The West Country club have yet to notch up back-to-back victories this season, and have lost their last six games in all competitions. Defeats to Leinster and their loss to Northampton at Franklins Gardens last week can be forgiven, but the losses against Sale and Worcester will hurt.

Bath are just eight points ahead of Newcastle at the foot of the table, and if they continue their current run of awful form then even with Newcastle's dismal season, Bath could be in danger of relegation, an unthinkable prospect at the start of the season.

Conversely, they are only 10 points behind Sunday's visitors London Irish, who lie third in the table. The season is only at its midway point and given just how close the table is, there is every chance that Bath can claw themselves back into the battle.

Irish have yet to prove convincingly that they are worthy of being in the top four come the end of the season, with the Premiership's top scorer Tom Homer responsible for much of their success this season. The consistency of Homer's kicking has put Irish at the top of a very condensed pile, but with the likes of Leicester and Northampton below them they will need to up their game.

Bath stole a closely fought victory over Irish two months ago in the reverse fixture, their last victory in the league and the first Premiership game of 2012 promises to be another close one. If Bath can recreate the sort of rugby that almost upset Leinster at the Rec earlier in the month, they have every chance of ending their abysmal run. Bath by less than 5.

 

Saracens v Gloucester Rugby 15:00

Saracens closed the gap at the top to just five points with their victory over the seemingly invincible Harlequins last weekend with a performance that will come as a warning to all the teams they cross for the rest of the season. Although they have not played the most exciting rugby, they have found the sort of form that saw them lift the Premiership trophy last season.

Gloucester have found some form at just the right time. Following an awful run of games, they ran in six tries against Wasps in an electric performance full of confidence and excitement. The strength of Saracens will make things tougher for Gloucester's visit to Vicarage Road, and Sarries will be far more wary of the Gloucester threat following the visitors performance against Wasps last weekend. Sarries by less than 7.

 

London Wasps v Worcester Warriors 15:00

Wasps, like Bath have hit a real slump of late, and their abject performance against Gloucester last week will be a great cause for concern for Dai Young. They will be boosted by the arrival of Namibian back row Tinus du Plessis who will bring some much needed strength to their weakened back row.

Victory over Bath aside, Worcester have looked out of their depth in the last few weeks, and it is only the worse form of Newcastle that will give the Warriors hope of survival this season. Despite the problems both on and off the field for Wasps, it is a prime opportunity for them to end their run of defeats, but Worcester will certainly be a challenge, with wings Miles Benjamin and Marcel Garvey a constant threat, and fly-half Joe Carlisle performing outstandingly, keeping former England international Andy Goode out of the 10 shirt at Worcester. Wasps by less than 3.

 

Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks 15:30

After their forgettable start to the season, Leicester are now one of the form sides in the country, undefeated in five games and showing the sort of form expected of them. The Tigers are level on points with their visitors, with the Sharks just ahead in fourth place, but the Tigers will go into the fixture as firm favourites to start 2012 with a victory.

Sale have performed above expectations lately, winning their last two games but Leicester are back to their best and they are set to continue their march into the play-off places on Sunday. Tigers by 7.