Preview: Guinness Premiership, Rd Ten
With two European weekends just ahead all the Guinness Premiership teams will be hoping to start building some good festive-time momentum with a win this weekend.
Last weekend’s big news was Wasps’ last minute withdrawal from their match at Edgeley Park – much to the displeasure of Sale boss Kingsley Jones.
The Londoners have come in for a lot of abuse for their decision, notably from Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill, meaning all eyes will be on them this weekend.
Bath too have had a rollercoaster of a week. Having been summoned to an ‘open’ discussion by club head coach Steve Meehan on Monday the entire camp has come out the other side seeming more united than ever before. Now the question is whether or not this can transfer onto their performances on the pitch when they take on the high-flying Saints…
Saracens remain unbeaten at the top of the Guinness Premiership table but following a draw last weekend they will be hoping to return to winning ways in Round 10 with when they host the Sale Sharks on Saturday.
Friday, 4 December
Leeds Carnegie v Harlequins (19.30 GMT) (19.30 local) – Headingley –
Harlequins took both encounters when the sides last met in the Guinness Premiership, in season 2007/08. Quins have won on four of their six previous visits to Headingley Carnegie.
Leeds Carnegie have slipped to three successive defeats in all competitions since their 28-17 victory over Leicester in the LV= Cup on 8 November. Leeds have not won at home in the Guinness Premiership since 21 March 2008 when Newcastle were the visitors.
Harlequins ended a three game winless run at the Twickenham Stoop with their 35-29 victory over Gloucester on Saturday. It was also the first try bonus point for Quins in any competition since April.
The home sides’ first half performance last weekend will have given them a lot of belief but they cannot afford to be so poor in the second half again.
Quins were very exciting last weekend and while they will not have Ugo Monye to call on this weekend they will still be looking to put the pressure on an inexperienced Carnegie team.
rugby365 Prediction: There seems to be a more positive feeling around Quins at the moment. Leeds are a brave side but probably do not have the quality to contain the likes of Danny Care. Quins by eight.
Saturday, 5 December
Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons (15.00 GMT) (15.00 Local) – Kingsholm –
Newcastle have won just one of their last seven clashes with Gloucester: 10-7 at Kingston Park in the Guinness Premiership in January. The Falcons’ only victory in 17 previous visits to Kingsholm was 29-27 in the Premiership on 11 April 1998.
Gloucester Rugby’s only win in their last eight encounters was 12-9 over Leicester at Kingsholm in the Guinness Premiership on 20 November. Gloucester tallied 29 points in their defeat to Harlequins – the most points they had scored in a game since February.
Newcastle Falcons’ three match winning run in the Guinness Premiership came to a halt at the hands of Northampton on Saturday. The Falcons have won three of their last four away games in all competitions.
The disappointment of the defeat to Northampton will have been pretty painful but the Falcons are not a side who stay down for too long.
Springbok Gcobani Bobo gets a rare start and with Gloucester struggling he could well be targeting a big performance to make an impression on Newcastle boss Steve Bates.
rugby365 Prediction: A tough one to call but the form guide points to a win for the away team. Falcons by five.
London Irish v Worcester Warriors (15.00 GMT)(15.00 Local) – Madejski Stadium –
Worcester have not beaten London Irish in the Premiership since a 20-15 victory at Madejski Stadium on 11 September 2005.
The last four games played by London Irish in all competitions have all been won by the away side on the day! The Exiles have lost their last two matches at Madejski Stadium but have not lost three in a row in Reading since season 2006/07.
Worcester Warriors have drawn their last two matches in the Guinness Premiership with identical 12-all four-penalty goals each scorelines at Sixways. The Warriors are the only side without a win on the road this season, whilst their only away win in the Premiership in the last 12 months was 13-6 at Gloucester on 21 April.
The visitors this weekend have been the only team so far this season to be able to contain Saracens and will head to the Madejski Stadium full of confidence.
Irish though were at their dominating best last weekend – beating Bath 16-0. Toby Booth’s side are currently second on the log and, with nine rounds of the competition gone, are continuing to look like genuine title contenders again this season.
rugby365 Prediction: Home advantage gives the Exiles the advantage. London Irish by ten.
Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby (15:00 GMT) (15:00 local) – Franklin’s Gardens –
Northampton have not beaten Bath since a 33-18 victory at Franklin’s Gardens in the Guinness Premiership on 16 September 2006. Bath’s only win at Franklin’s Gardens since 2000 was 37-30 over Saracens, when Sarries moved a home game there, on 6 November 2004.
Northampton Saints have won their last four matches in all competitions since their 15-29 reversal at Leicester on 31 October. The Saints’ only home defeat in their last 41 encounters in all competitions since Match 2007 was 13-19 to Newcastle in the Guinness Premiership on 28 February 2009.
Bath Rugby’s only win in their last ten matches was 21-11 over Ospreys at The Rec in the LV= Cup on 14 November. Bath’s only away win in the Guinness Premiership so far this season was 25-12 at Sale on 18 September.
Can Bath walk the walk? A club with a head coach under pressure, Bath needs a good performance this weekend. Up against Northampton they could be forgiven for falling short but the fans will at least need to see some signs of life following last weekend’s poor showing.
Northampton meanwhile were in complete control last weekend against Newcastle and, with Shane Geraghty back at No.10, are continuing to impress.
rugby365 Prediction: Expect a brave performance from Meehan’s men but Northampton is a very tough nut to crack at home… too hard. Saints by nine.
Saracens v Sale Sharks (17.35 GMT) (17.35 local) – Vicarage Road –
The last six clashes between the two clubs have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Sale’s only previous victory in 13 previous visits to Vicarage Road was 40-32 in the Premiership on 25 September 2005.
Table topping Saracens lost their 100% winning record in the Guinness Premiership last Friday at Worcester, but remain the only unbeaten team following the 12-all draw at Sixways. Sarries’ only loss in their last 18 encounters in all competitions was 13-16 to Leicester at Vicarage Road in the Guinness Premiership on 19 April.
Sale Sharks have now secured back to back victories in the Guinness Premiership, over Gloucester and Leeds. The Sharks won their most recent away game, 24-17, at Leeds to end a ten game winless run on the road.
The visitors have had an extra week’s rest due to their cancelled clash last weekend but no doubt they will not have seen that as a bonus themselves. Saracens meanwhile will be looking return to winning ways following last weekend’s 12-all draw with the Warriors.
rugby365 Prediction: Back at home Saracens will be expecting a victory. We too expect them to win – by ten points.
Sunday, 6 December
London Wasps v Leicester Tigers (15:00 GMT) (15:00 local) – Adams Park –
Wasps have won their last four matches against Leicester, but the Tigers have an excellent record at Adams Park, having won on four of their eight previous visits, and also securing two draws.
London Wasps have slipped to successive defeats in the Guinness Premiership, against Leeds and Saracens. Wasps only home defeat in their last 16 matches was 9-15 to Leeds in the Premiership on 1 November.
Leicester Tigers’ last seven matches in all competitions have all been won by the home side on the day. The Tigers’ most recent away win in the Guinness Premiership was on 12 September at Harlequins.
Richard Cockerill will be in the stands this weekend serving part of his ban for ‘improper conduct’ but given the experience that there is in the Tigers’ ranks it is hard to imagine that it will affect the visitors too much this weekend.
Tony Hanks meanwhile has had to dear with a lot of criticism following his decision not to take the pitch last weekend against Sale, for safety reasons, and will be looking to his team to do the talking on the pitch for him.
rugby365 Prediction: Match of the weekend – Wasps/Tigers is always an exciting encounter and one which nobody wants to miss. Two very exciting lineups – a lot will depend on the battle between Serge Betsen and Lewis Moody. It’s unpopular to predict a draw but it’s a very good open – no more than three points either way though.
by rugby365
