Aviva Premiership - Round 19 Preview

First topic message reminder :

League Standings:

67pts Northampton
57pts Saracens
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56pts Bath
55pts Leicester
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54pts Exeter
48pts Wasps
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47pts Sale
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39pts Harlequins
37pts Gloucester
33pts London Irish
26pts Newcastle
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 1pt  London Welsh



Fri 10th Apr

19:45 Newcastle Falcons  v  Bath Rugby BT Sport
Both sides will have been disappointed with their performances last weekend. Bath will know that they had a real chance to make the champions Cup semi-final, if only their outside backs could have played half as well as George Ford did inside them. Falcons meanwhile were thrashed by Exeter for the second time this season. Last time that happened they returned to Kingston Park to secure an entertaining win against Wasps. Falcons fans (as well as Tigers, Sarries, Chiefs) will be hoping for more of the same. Both sides have enterprising running game, and defences that can leave holes - so entertainment may indeed be present. As too often though you feel that JP Doyles interpretations at scrum time could have a huge bearing. Falcons LH woes are well documented, as are Baths injuries at TH - so this could balance out. Paul James is currently the most penalised player in the AP - if this continues then Falcons could provide an upset.


Sat 11th Apr

15:00 Harlequins  v   Gloucester Rugby
Two teams who are realistically just fighting for pride. Will Gloucester be concentrating on their Challenge Cup semi?


15:15 Saracens v   Leicester Tigers BT Sport
Sarries had a hard fought win last Sunday in the Champions Cup and may well have one eye on next weeks clash with Clermont. With a shortened gap and massive fixture next week, will McCall take the chance to rest some players? I cannot see Leicester getting anything from a full strength Sarries team, but if they choose to rest the walking wounded like Charlie Hodgson and wrap up the likes of Mako and Billy in cotton-wool - well then we may sneak something from the game.



Sun 12th Apr

14:00 Exeter Chiefs  v  Northampton Saints       BT Sport
Two very differing performances last weekend, it will be interesting to see how the teams react. With nothing left to play for Saints surely have to come out firing. Chiefs meanwhile know that completing a double over the Champions will see them move back into a play-off spot. Shoudl be an excellent game with plenty of points on offer. Will Exeter continue with Mumm at 7? Will Waldrom continue his fine form as he seeks to push for a WC spot? Can Saints deliver a performance the like we have yet to see in 2015? You feel they have to, not only if they are to win this game but also to gain confidence for the end of season run in.

14:30 London Welsh  v  Wasps
Welsh are relegated, so perhaps can go out and have some fun. Reckon we may see over 100pts scored in this efence optional game, with Welsh picking up their second TBP in a heavy defeat.


15:00 London Irish  v  Sale Sharks Sharks
Steve Diamond believes that they can still make the play-offs, but need to win all four remaining matches to stand a chance. More realistically they are fighting to stay clear of Quins and make the ECC play-off and possibly overtake Wasps to secure 6th spot. Either way they have more to play for and could well squeeze out a narrow win.

beshocked wrote:I wonder if Sarries will throw away another 4th try bonus point opportunity.

I think they've squandered 7 opportunities when on 3 tries.

If that's the height of your problems! You should be a Tigers fan!

That was a try!

Sarries have a coherent game plan. The backs are all on the same page and as a unit they work well. If they don't get a TBP they've got to be asking questions of themselves as they have dominated the game.

Harrison has added good impetus. I'd probably start him and Pearce if we had a game next week.

Next game is Welsh so suspect that Pearce and Harrison might start.

Did daglo just say Kelly brown came in with his head and thats legal? Lol

Silly fro gonava

TBH in the end at least sarries failed to get 5pts.

Not looking forward to wasps Away.

If saints deny Exeter a point we stay the same.

The defence has been excellent.

The tackling stats showed where the game was lost and won.

True nathan. To be fair Billy was lucky he didn't get YC in the first half.

BillyV should have been carded and may even get cited. That could have enabled Tigers to build a bigger lead, but you feel it would have only been in multiples of 3. Certinly we would not have been as clinical as Sarries who scored 3 tries in the 10 minutes Youngs was off.

Other than when Youngs was off, we were better at scrum and lineout - otherwise we were third in a two horse race. While both sides nullified the oppositions driving mauls, Sarries defended well and when they ran the ball ran with pace and purpose.

Sarries by far the better side.

Mixed match between us and Glaws, couple of harsh cards, but good result and at least some good play

Have a very bad feeling about Saints on the road again.  Hoping for the win, but bonus points are key now.  The best backline threats are done.  Foden and North.  We needs some real improvement here so we don't simply stutter to the playoffs and get dusted.  Exe must be salivating.

Good game between Sarries and Tigers but neither team will be happy, Tigers completely blew a 6-0 lead with their handling and tactics, their kicking in particular was just terrible. Sarries were classic Sarries, did well to get the three tries so quickly, but then just gave up and opted to defend for the last 25 mins! Full marks for the effort but against a better team that would have cost them more, and they missed out on a pretty easy try bonus point. Kelly Brown was my MoM, the hype on Billy V is getting way too OTT now.

And Dayglo is a terrible commentator sadly, he just doesn't come across as thinking before he speaks.

Dayglo belongs on Sky. He doesn't display the depth of thought to commentate on BT. When you compare him to Flats and Kay he doesn't come across favourably.

Tigers kicking was poor but in the first half it seemed to be the tactic to use the wind and pin Sarries back. Play in there half and nick the penalties. Then play with the lead in the second half. If Tom had engaged his brain and avoided the dim yellow card then I think we'd have been up at half time as the Sarries domination only turned when we were down to 14.

I still think Sarries would have won it, they've proved over the last few weeks that they can come back from behind and Tigers never looked like scoring a try.

You're right about Dayglo though, he's just so far below Kay and Flats its painful!

Monye as well is far better.

Well they have a forward and a back alongside the commentator so I was comparing him for the like for like alternatives.

I don't think Tigers were ever going to win that game. No yellow card and I think a LBP could have been available.

Saints not playing well and actually losing

Awful scrum and so many handling errors from good territory. Actually some good possession but making it so hard for ourselves with so many yellows and not finishing chances. Really awful form.

Saints were lucky for that try, missed knock on

I think the ref in the Irish Sale game might just have not checked to see if a scoring pass was forward (it was) because he found Allinson and Skivington shouting at him to check it 'unacceptable.' I guess with the Maxwell-Keyes incident he doesn't want to look like he's getting bullied but it kind of stank of a referee thinking the match revolves around him. Other than that he has looked a little whistle happy but generally in favour of Irish so I'm not complaining about that!

More tackle in the air controversy. Ojo chasing a high ball pushes Cueto out of the way (the kind of push you get under 3 out every 4 high balls) but Cueto then collides into Hayley who was taking the ball in the air, wiping him out. Hayley not hurt and Ojo obviously wasn't intending what happened but ends up with a yellow.

On a side note Lewington just scored his second through great power, pace and a good step, he could very well become good enough for England

Exeter vs Saints just showed what an extra week of rest should lead to.

Exeter looked fresher and should have really scored more points.

Saints were only one point down at half time but in the dressing room looked like they were beaten already!

I know I am a but Saints are not yet in top form. Perhaps they are just waiting for the playoffs but that kind of logic could be dangerous.

Saints can still be caught by Saracens and Bath if Saracens win all 3 of their matches, Bath win all 3 of theirs and Saints lose to Saracens and Leicester.

Still unlikely but possible.

Their advantage is that now have a week off to recharge before a huge match vs Saracens who of course have to go away to Clermont who will be fresh having rested their entire XV that beat Saints.

Dont think Exeter got extra rest, they played Newcastle in Europe I think?

I thought Saints were out thought and out played yesterday. I'd still back them to finish top though, particularly as Sarries are still in Europe.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Dont think Exeter got extra rest, they played Newcastle in Europe I think?

Ah but B considers playing Falcons to be akin to a rest.

Fair enough no 7 & 1/2 but Clermont are still a tougher opponent than Newcastle.

A morale boosting win vs Newcastle is better preparation compared to a big loss to Clermont.

Didn't help Saints that they had no Lawes either.

Saints were vulnerable and Exeter exploited it though not to full effect.

Saints should be a stronger and more motivated side in 2 weeks time.

They should have been that yesterday! Think you may have got them at the perfect time. Missing 2 of their best backs dismantled in the scrum they ll be rusty you ll be coming off the high of beating Clermont (hopefully).

Was out with daughters yesterday so missed the game. Confused as to how a Chiefs scrum that was demolished by us two weeks ago, managed to destroy Saints.

Francis was excellent. Took apart Corbs and Waller. You could say he was turning in slightly and was fortunate once or twice but he took full advantage. Impressive from the cough Welshman anyway.

LondonTiger wrote:Was out with daughters yesterday so missed the game. Confused as to how a Chiefs scrum that was demolished by us two weeks ago, managed to destroy Saints.

Saints pack IMO is very overrated.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Francis was excellent. Took apart Corbs and Waller. You could say he was turning in slightly and was fortunate once or twice but he took full advantage. Impressive from the cough Welshman anyway.

OK. Having heard so much about Francis had been looking forward to seeing him, but at Welford Road he was shockingly bad.

Welly Saints are just not playing well - still got the personnel just not the confidence.

Need to be able to not run out of steam before the playoffs as top 2 is not yet guaranteed with two tough games - Saracens and Tigers.

no 7 & 1/2 Clermont vs Saracens is going to be a bruising encounter and quite clearly Saracens will be the underdogs. Got to believe they can win though. We'll see how that pans out before the Saints game.


Does Francis count as a Welshman now even though he hasn't been capped? I don't know what the rules are in that case. Is him being in the Welsh squad enough?

Tongue in cheek, Francis isnt committed to anyone yet.

LondonTiger wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Dont think Exeter got extra rest, they played Newcastle in Europe I think?

Ah but B considers playing Falcons to be akin to a rest.