Aviva Premieship Round 16 Preview

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Fri 28th Feb 14

19:45 PR Bath Rugby  v   Saracens BT Sport
Well, how do you judge form? Is it results, or is it performance? Saracens shock defeat to London Irish was only their second AP defeat this season. However a team that was running in tries for fun has failed to secure a TBP since they hammered Leicester at the end of last year. Mutterings about performance levels and missed tackles sees some oddly pessimistic Sarries fans. The away team should have a strong lineup on display, with only Owen Farrell likely to be held back by England (BillyV would have been held back – but is now injured).

Bath should see Davey Wilson released to gain more match fitness – and the front row will see the first of some interesting confrontations. ath will hope to have a clear edge here to set up scrum dominance and give a strong back row licence to really play. Sarries will be hoping they can get to work in the line-out. A variety of hookers for Bath this season have struggled at times to hit their jumpers – and Borthwick is still a significant threat in this area.

In the backs things get interesting. Bath will hope to have Ford available and are sweating on injuries to a few players.  Meanwhile on the wings both Strettle and Ashton will be looking to get back into try scoring form.

This is a crucial match for both teams – a Bath win will give them belief that a Home Play-off semi is not an impossible dream. An away win for Saracens and suddenly Recwatchers will be looking nervously over their shoulders. Should Saracens play well the should win, however perform as they have in the last month and we can expect to see the points staying in the spa town.

Bath 8/10, Sarries 11/10 with the bookies


Sat 1st Mar 14

15:00 PR Exeter Chiefs  v   London Irish
The Chiefs have lost 7 of their last 8 AP matches. They have obtained LBPs in 5 of those defeats, but at times a real lack of composure has hurt them. You could say the same about the Irish team that was narrowly beaten last weekend by Leicester, a defeat that ended the little winning streak that has done so much to ease relegation fears.
Can anyone explain what is going on down at Sandy Park? At times Exeter look awesome, then suddenly a switch gets flicked and they look lacklustre and shambolic. They seem to veer from the sublime to the ridiculous several times per match. they will need to make sure the scrum is firing, as this has been a weakness for LI all season. Further injuries to props cannot have helped.
This could be a highly entertaining match, as both teams like to run with the ball. Marland Yarde will be hoping to get a start this week as he comes back from injury and looks to pressure Nowell and May for their England shirts. Tom Johnson knows that a strong performance in this game could well see him in the matchday squad for England v Wales.

Exeter strong favourite on Betfair


15:00 PR Harlequins  v   Worcester Warriors
As Worcester desperately seek a first league win of the season, they will be glad that their visit to the Stoop sees the 2012 Champions missing vital players all the way down the spine of their team. Quins need their front 5 to man up and provide a platform for their backs to utilise. Worcester need to find some resolve, they have the players to worry a stuttering Quins side, but do they have the belief.

Quins massive favourites on Betfair


15:00 PR London Wasps  v   Sale Sharks
Wasps have lost their last 3 matches in a row, though have secured LBPs. In fact they seem highly proficient at just losing matches - 8 LBPs in 9 AP defeats this season. As a team, they have suffered injuries in the back 3 and seem to be getting little direction from half back. Against a stout, but unflashy Sale side - you can expect to see them struggle again. Wasps really need a win to keep hopes of top flight Euro action alive.
Sale still believe they can reach the top 4. They have to win matches like this on the road if that dream - or indeed decent Euro action, is to be realised. For this they need their forwards to be strong, and Cipriani to perform well against his former club.

Bookies unable to separate the two teams


15:15 PR Northampton Saints  v   Gloucester Rugby BT Sport
Saints should still be top of the table at the end of this weekend, as they seek to gain revenge for their only league defeat of the season. In seasons gone by, they have struggled during international windows, but that has not been the case this season. Up front the young guys have really developed nicely, Samu Manoa is as usual excellent and the form of Callum Clark has been incredible. At No8 Dickinson will be hoping to put in the sort of performance that could get him into the England squad for the remaining 6Ns matches. Behind the scrum Myler has been Mr Consistency while real flair is provided by the Pisi boys. they will be missing a shedload of players - yet still look strong.
Gloucester - apparently last week saw a hugely improved performance, which was needed. To call their front 5 powder puff would be no exaggeration, and you can see them being blown away again. Their talented backline needs some ball - and will be desperate for the arrival of Hibbard and Afoa next season. However there is this season still to finish.

Saints strong favourites with the bookies.


Sun 2nd Mar 14

14:00 PR Newcastle Falcons  v   Leicester Tigers BT Sport
When these two met earlier in the season, DoR Dean Richards virtually gifted his former team 5 points by selecting a weakened lineup. He will have seen Leicester's iffy form and surely will not do that again. The Falcons pack has improved markedly as the season has progressed (are the lineout failings still present?) and will be hoping to gain something close to parity with the East Midlanders. If selected Keiron Brookes will hope to show tigers what they let go and strengthen his place back in Falcon's fans hearts.
It is behind the pack that things get interesting. Both sides have struggled to show any fluency this season, with Falcons really struggling to score the points they should with the possession they have. Tigers may include Manu Tuilagi on the bench (his only appearance this season was a strong showing in the reverse fixture) and Cockerill has some tough decisions at 10 and 12. Dan Bowden was a late call up against his former team last week (no reason given for Allens late withdrawal) and did well. Inside him, Williams was solid.

Leicester clear favourites with the bookies

Lucky they've missed 2 kicks

Halavatau carded for a deliberate knock on. Kickable penalty for the Chiefs.

Obviously need to change our approach to the breakdown

6-0 Warriors, Monye has had a stint in the bin and we've leaked so so so many penalties

6-0 to Exeter with 16 minutes to go until half time.

Sounds like a pretty scrappy game at Sandy Park.

Kickable penalty to us after the Chiefs pull down a maul in their own 22.

This is ruining my weekend...

And O'Connor hits the post!

Our kicking off the tee this year has been appalling!

Try Worcester. This is so poor, (good by Worcester though) I am so glad logansrun isn't around anymore

I cannot wait to have Tom Homer back in the team.

I can't wait to have Evans back in the team...

Sounds like Geraghty having a good game for us, but we are not clinical enough.  we've visited the Chiefs 22 about 6 times and come away with nothing.  They've been in ours 3 times and come away with 6 points!

Terrible start to the second half from us. Poor clearing kick from Ojo fails to find touch, Chiefs run it back and Dollman eventually gets the try!

6-13 to Worcester. Getting better, not that it was hard to

We seem to be getting worse. Intensity a bit down from our boys by the sound of it.

Worcester front row collapsing every scrum now

Chiefs line speed good, denying us any momentum.

Wuss player yellowed. Need to take advantage

ChequeredJersey wrote:Tigers will finish 5th

if glos forwards pull their fingers out, they might beat the saints. Which would be good for us. Quins losing would be good too

Sam Smith scores against the side he's expected to leave us for. Need to take this game away from Worcester now

nathan wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Tigers will finish 5th

if glos forwards pull their fingers out, they might beat the saints. Which would be good for us. Quins losing would be good too

And very possible...

ChequeredJersey wrote:

nathan wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Tigers will finish 5th

if glos forwards pull their fingers out, they might beat the saints. Which would be good for us. Quins losing would be good too

And very possible...

one of those is!

I will take any win over Wuss at the moment and then just pray Evans is fit for Sarries

Really flat performance this from us. 20 minutes to go, still 13-0 to the Chiefs and to be honest we've not really threatened them at all this half.

Sounds like a potential tip tackle on Darren Allinson. Ref going to the TMO.

14-13 Quins, we have all of the momentum

pretty impressive by Sale, starting to collect the results.

Clark being a nobhead once again.

nathan wrote:Clark being a nobhead once again.

#shocker

ChequeredJersey wrote:

nathan wrote:Clark being a nobhead once again.

#shocker

Was a bit suprised by bit of "PR" he got in the week. He has a Poopie celebration too.

Possible try by Sloan on his debut

hopefully 19-13

21-13

We've had a shocker today. Zero intentisy and basic errors. Chiefs lead 18-0.

Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in the cricket, whatever next!

Does matter if you get tackled if your forwards are so slow to get to the breakdown.

Pennell scores for Wuss, still not over

Somebody should probably inform Sherlock Holmes that Moriarty is on the pitch

Saints lucky to get that try, shouldn't of been a yellow. Shouldn't of even been a penalty.

Just scraped the win, 21-20

ChequeredJersey wrote:Just scraped the win, 21-20

congrats CJ!

Really like Saints when they get their maul going. Just a few minutes left.
Foden is looking pretty good for a first time back. This is a very good development.

Saints just scored again from another dodgy decision. The most forward of forward passes you'll ever see!

Having said that, at least it evens things up from the last time these teams played.

doctor_grey wrote:Really like Saints when they get their maul going.  Just a few minutes left.
Foden is looking pretty good for a first time back.  This is a very good development.

Agree regarding Foden, he's looking very sharp.

Really manned up in the second half, not a great performance or the ideal result but it's enough to keep things on track, just have to hope we put in a huge performance vs Sarries at Wembley!

praying for bonus point win tomorrow, will put us joint 3rd.

Praying that Newcastle beat you, sorry!

ChequeredJersey wrote:Praying that Newcastle beat you, sorry!

haha, no need to apologise! The way our season has been going it wouldn't shock me to see us lose.

nathan wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Just scraped the win, 21-20

congrats CJ!

Sorry to say, I was rooting for Worcester. Not that I have anything against Quins - I certainly don't - but I just feel so darn bad for Worcester. I am pulling for them in every match they play. If they are relegated, at least they should notch up a few wins.

If I were neutral I'd have been rooting for Worcester too! Well won, Saints