Preview: Premiership, Round Six
LOCAL IS LEKKER: The Premiership returns with three consecutive weekends of rip-roaring action – starting with a Christmas cracker of a Round Six.
Following two weekends of European Cup action, it’s back to domestic duties – with Northampton Saints leading the way, two points ahead of Bristol Bears.
Both are in action away from home on Saturday, with league-leaders Saints travelling to Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears taking on Saracens at Allianz Park.
But the action gets underway on Friday, as the cameras head to Kingsholm with Gloucester welcoming Worcester Warriors. The hosts have won just one of their last seven matches, while Worcester arrive buoyed by back-to-back victories.
The cameras will be at Welford Road the next day as Leicester Tigers host an Exeter Chiefs side hunting their sixth successive win.
Saturday also sees Wasps take on Harlequins at the Ricoh Arena, before Round Six concludes with Bath’s trip to London Irish on Sunday, with the cameras once again there to see if the visitors can end a run of five straight defeats in all competitions.
We look at all the Round Six action!
Friday, December 20
Gloucester v Worcester Warriors
(Kingsolm – Kick-off: 19.45)
Gloucester’s only victory in their last seven first-team games was 26-17 at home to Connacht in Round Three of the European Champions Cup.
Gloucester’s 12-21 defeat in their most recent home game in Premiership ended a six-game home winning run in the tournament at Kingsholm.
Worcester Warriors have won their last two Premiership matches, at Harlequins and at home to Sale, but have not won three in a row in the competition since March 2016.
Warriors are in fourth place in the table which equals the highest spot they have ever occupied (excluding opening round tables) since Round Nine of the 2005-06 season.
The last five encounters between the two clubs have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Worcester’s only previous victory at Kingsholm was in Premiership in April 2009.
The teams:
Gloucester: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Willi Heinz (captain), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Lewis Ludlow 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.
Replacements: 16 Todd Gleave, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Freddie Clarke, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Charlie Sharples.
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Matt Moulds (captain), 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Conor Carey, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 GJ van Velze, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Jamie Shillcock.
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson & Greg Macdonald
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Saturday, December 21
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs
(Welford Road – Kick-off: 15.00)
Leicester Tigers’ only defeat in their last five first team matches was 13-36 away to Northampton Saints in the East Midlands derby at the end of November.
Tigers have won their last three home games in all competitions but have not won four in a row at Welford Road for two years.
Exeter Chiefs have won their last five first team matches since their 17-20 home defeat to Bristol in Round Four of Premiership. The Chiefs most recent away defeat in any tournament was at Bath in Round 2 of Premiership.
Leicester beat Exeter 27-7 in the Premiership Cup at Welford Road in September but in Premiership they have won just one of their last six fixtures against the Chiefs: 20-13 at Welford Road in September 2017.
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 Joe Launchbury (captain), 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ben Harris.
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Tom West, 18 Jack Owlett, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Will Porter, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Juan de Jongh.
Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 James Lang, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Lawday, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 James Chisholm, 5 Matt Symons, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Elia Elia, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Jack Musk, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Paul Lasike, 23 Vereniki Goneva.
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace & John Meredith
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
(AJ Bell Stadium – Kick-off: 15.00)
Sale Sharks’ record in the last seven rounds of Premiership is an even won three, lost three, drawn one. The Sharks have lost just once at AJ Bell Stadium in Premiership since March: 16-18 to Gloucester in Round One.
Table-topping Northampton Saints have lost just once in Premiership this season: 13-22 at Bath in Round Four. Saints only victory in their last four away games in Premiership was 27-25 at Saracens in Round One.
Northampton’s 67-17 victory over Sale at Franklin’s Gardens in February ended a three-game losing run to The Sharks in Premiership. The Saints have made seven previous visits to AJ Bell Stadium in Premiership winning just twice, in November 2012 and March 2017.
Teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Sam James, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Byron McGuigan, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 James Phillips, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Matt Postlethwaite, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Will Cliff, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Denny Solomona.
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison (co-captain), 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Alex Moon, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Mike Haywood, 1 Alex Waller (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Francois Van Wyk, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Connor Tupai, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Ahsee Tuala.
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Wayne Falla
TMO: David Grashoff
Saracens v Bristol Bears
(Allianz Park – Kick-off: 15.00)
Saracens have won their last four Premiership matches since their opening weekend home reversal to Northampton.
This was Saracens’ first home defeat in the tournament since Leicester visited Allianz Park in February 2018.
Bristol Bears are unbeaten in their last seven first team matches since their 17-22 loss at Harlequins in round 2 of Premiership.
Bristol have won their last three away games, at Exeter in Premiership and on trips to France to face Brive and Stade Francais.
Bristol’s 23-21 victory against Saracens at Ashton Gate in Round 19 last season ended a seven-game losing run to the Londoners in all competitions stretching back to 2008. Bristol’s most recent victory on Saracens soil was 19-13 at Vicarage Road in Premiership in February 2006.
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Max Malins, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Brad Barritt (captain), 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Alex Lewington.
Bristol Bears: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Toby Fricker, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Chris Vui, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 John Afoa, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Jake Woolmore.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 James Lay, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Luke Hamilton, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Alapati Leiua.
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant referees: Michael Hudson & Roy Maybank
TMO: Graham Hughes
Wasps v Harlequins
(Ricoh Arena – Kick-off: 15.00)
Wasps’ only victory in Premiership so far this season was 30-22 at home to Bath in Round Three, their most recent home game in the competition.
They have not won successive Premiership matches at the Ricoh Arena since April 2018.
Harlequins beat Gloucester 23-19 at Twickenham Stoop in Round Five of Premiership but have not won consecutive matches in the competition since March.
Harlequins have won just one of their last ten away games in all tournaments: 21-18 at London Irish in round 2 of Premiership Cup in September.
The last 10 encounters between the two clubs in all competitions have been evenly split with five wins apiece. Harlequins have made six previous visits to the Ricoh Arena in all competitions winning just once, 24-21 in Premiership in September 2017.
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 Joe Launchbury (captain), 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ben Harris.
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Tom West, 18 Jack Owlett, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Will Porter, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Juan de Jongh.
Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 James Lang, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Lawday, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 James Chisholm, 5 Matt Symons, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Elia Elia, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Jack Musk, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Paul Lasike, 23 Vereniki Goneva.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley & Paul Dix
TMO: Geoff Warren
Sunday, December 22
London Irish v Bath
(Madejski Stadium – Kick-off: 15.00)
London Irish drew 27-all at Bristol in Round Five of Premiership, their first tie in the competition since drawing 40-all at home to Wasps in Round 22 in 2015.
The Exiles’ 36-11 victory over Leicester at Madejski Stadium in Round Four was their first home win in Premiership since February 2018, whilst they have not won successive matches in the competition at the venue since February 2016.
Bath have slipped to five straight defeats in all tournaments since beating Northampton at the Recreation Ground in Round Four of Premiership.
Bath have won just once away from home in any competition this season: 26-24 against Gloucester at Kingsholm in Round Four of the Premiership Cup.
Bath have won their last nine matches against London Irish in Premiership since their 22-29 reversal at Reading in September 2012.
Teams:
London Irish: 15 Paddy Jackson, 14 Curtis Rona, 13 Tom Stephenson, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Blair Cowan (captain), 6 Steve Mafi, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Ruan Botha, 3 Olle Hoskins, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Franco van der Merwe, 20 Matt Rogerson, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Tom Fowlie, 23 James Stokes.
Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 Rhys Priestland (captain), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Ellis, 5 Elliott Stooke, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Matt Garvey, 20 Rhys Davies, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Aled Brew.
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Simon Harding & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Sean Davey
Source: @premrugby
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