Aviva Premiership: Week 14 Preview
Aviva Premiership: Week 14 Preview
The Aviva Premiership returns this weekend after a month's absence, with the battle for the play-offs and relegation set to continue. Basement side Newcastle face a tough trip to a rejuvenated Bath, and there are two clashes in the capital as Harlequins host London Irish on Saturday, and the weekend is rounded up with Saracens travelling the short distance to High Wycombe on Sunday.
Friday
Sale Sharks v Worcester Warriors 20:00
Worcester travel to Stockport to face Sale with both sides higher up the table than they may have expected back in September. The home side are still in contention for a Heineken Cup place, while Worcester look like they will be playing Premiership rugby again next season, with a thirteen point gap between themselves in 9th and Newcastle at the bottom.
While other teams have been weakened by international call-ups, Sale will be strengthened this weekend as Andrew Sheridan is set to make his first appearance since going off injured for England during the World Cup, and Mark Cueto also returns from injury. They will be joined by James Gaskell and David Seymour as the pair return from Saxons duty.
Worcester go for experience in the half-backs with Shaun Perry and Andy Goode starting, and number eight Blair Cowan will make his debut after joining from the Cornish Pirates in January. Sharks by 10.
Saturday
Harlequins v London Irish 14:00
London Irish make the trip to the Stoop on Saturday with their play-off aspirations still alive. The Exiles are just three points behind Leicester and Northampton, and with the two sides above them and their hosts Quins losing key players to the Six Nations, the upcoming weeks are a great opportunity for London Irish.
Following their perfect start the season, Quins have faltered a little with three defeats in their last three games in all competitions “ most critically their loss to Connacht in the Heineken Cup.
The Exiles will be up against it “ they have lost twice already this season to Quins “ in the corresponding fixture at the Madejski Stadium and at the Stoop in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in October. Added to that the fact that London Irish have struggled on the road this season, with a solitary victory away from home, and the league leaders should put an end to an unwanted sequence of games without a win. Quins by 10
Bath Rugby v Newcastle Falcons 14:15
Bath may only be two places ahead of their visitors to the Rec on Saturday, but if recent results are anything to go by then the gap is much larger than the table suggests.
The West Country side have won just one game in their last five in the league, but they have won their last three games, including putting 46 points on an albeit weak Northampton, as well as securing a bonus point victory at Sandy Park, something that few sides have managed since Exeter's promotion.
Newcastle have struggled all season, no more so than on the road where they are yet to win in this campaign. In fact the Falcons have won just once in almost two years when away from the familiarity of Kingston Park.
Bath will look to transfer their good run of form in the Anglo-Welsh Cup to the league “ a win whilst denying the Falcons a bonus point would increase the gap to 16 points and ensure that the West Country side are safe after a fairly turgid season.
A win for Newcastle and both Bath and Wasps will be looking over their shoulders, but with Newcastle managing just one victory in their last 15 matches against their hosts on Saturday, they could be staring deeper into the abyss come Saturday evening. Bath by 10
Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints 14:45
Gloucester will hope to continue rebuilding Kingsholm as an impenetrable fortress as they entertain Northampton on Saturday. The Cherry and Whites have now won four games in a row in all competitions at home, and while their Premiership form has been shaky, they will hope to channel good form in other competitions into positive results in the league.
Northampton lose a large number of players to the England squad, and will hope that they won't suffer as abjectly as they did against Bath a fortnight ago on the road. The Saints have won just once in six years at Kingsholm and despite being one of the form sides in the league, their absences will hurt them. Gloucester by 5.
Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers 18:00
Two years ago you would have been mad to tip Exeter to beat Leicester. But the Chiefs have been a revelation in their two seasons in the Premiership and Sandy Park has claimed several victims this season.
Leicester have won five on the bounce heading into Saturday evening's game, and although they lose a number of players to the Six Nations (including their two first choice tightheads who will scrum down against each other in Rome on Saturday), their losses are not as heavy as they may have been under Martin Johnson's England.
The good news for the Tigers is that Toby Flood has been released by the England squad, and after playing 35 minutes in the LV Cup last weekend, could be in for some game time.
Exeter's defeat to Bath last weekend ended a run of four wins in a row in all competitions, but despite Sandy Park being a tough place for away sides to visit, the Chiefs have won just once in their last four home games. Leicester may have triumphed on their last visit to Exeter, but the Chiefs have beaten Leicester twice at Welford Road since then and have every chance of causing another upset this weekend. Tigers by 3.
Sunday
London Wasps v Saracens 13:15
Second from bottom host second from top in Sunday's encounter as Saracens travel the short distance to Adams Park to take on Wasps.
The six-time champions have suffered a terrible season and sit one place above Newcastle at the foot of the table. Reigning champions Saracens sit just three points behind Harlequins now after reeling their rivals in, and will aiming to condemn Wasps to a seventh defeat in a row in the league.
Wasps will hope to repeat their opening day victory over Sarries at Twickenham but even against a Saracens name missing several big names, they will struggle. Sarries recorded their first ever victory at Adams Park last season, and will be favourites to make it two in a row as they aim to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games. Saracens by
