Preview: Premiership, Round three
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After two rounds of Premiership play remarkably only two sides – Northampton Saints and Gloucester – are unbeaten, suggesting we are set for another incredibly close league campaign.
Top-of-the-table Northampton Saints get the honour of kicking off Round three of Premiership this weekend at Franklin’s Gardens for the visit of Harlequins.
The Saints have lost just twice to Harlequins in their last dozen meetings in Premiership Rugby, at Twickenham Stoop in October 2016 and at Twickenham Stadium in December 2017.
Northampton Saints and Harleguins are joined in Friday’s action by the Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks who face-off at Ashton Gate, on the eve of the Rugby World Cup Final, with Sharks flank Ben Curry given special dispensation by Director of Rugby Steve Diamond to travel to Japan to see twin brother Tom take on South Africa.
We have three matches on Saturday this weekend following the Final in Yokahama, with bottom-of-table Tigers hosting Gloucester, who go into the weekend second on points difference behind the Saints.
Champions Saracens host newly-promoted London Irish on Saturday while Wasps complete the day’s proceedings by hosting Bath at the Ricoh Arena.
Saracens also set a new record last weekend. At 16 years and 330 days the combination of Wigglesworth (36) and Vunipola (19) broke the record for greatest difference in age between starting halfbacks in Premiership history, overtaking the mark set more than 20 years ago by Hall Charlton and Rob Andrew.
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We look at all the Round Two matches!
Friday, November 1
Northampton Saints v Harlequins
(Franklin’s Gardens, 19.45)
Top of the table Northampton Saints have won both Premiership games so far, at Saracens and at home to Worcester Warriors, the last time they began a Premiership season with three wins was in 2012/13. The Saints have won their last two home games in Premiership, both against Worcester.
Harlequins beat Bears at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday but have not won back-to-back Premiership encounters since March. The Londoners have lost their last five away games in the competition since beating Bath at the Recreation Ground on March second.
The Saints have lost just twice to ‘Quins in their last dozen meeting in Premiership play, at Twickenham Stoop in October 2016 and at Twickenham Stadium in December 2017. Harlequins have lost on their last eight visits to Franklin’s Gardens in all tournaments since their 18-9 victory there in December 2012.
Teams:
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Andrew Symons, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 James Grayson, 9 Henry Taylor, 8 Teimana Harrison (captain), 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Alex Moon, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Ben Franks
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Alex Coles, 21 Connor Tupai, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Ollie Sleightholme
Harlequins: 15 Aaron Morris, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 James Chisholm, 5 Matt Symons, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Elia Elia, 1 Mark Lambert
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Will Collier, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 Renaldo Bothma, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Brett Herron, 23 Michele Campagnaro
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Paul Dix
TMO: Sean Davey
Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
(Ashton Gate, 19.45)
Bristol Bears’ five-game unbeaten run in Premiership Rugby ended at Harlequins on Saturday. The Bristol Bears are unbeaten in their last five matches at Ashton Gate in all competitions since Worcester Warriors beat them there in Premiership Rugby in March.
Sale Sharks’ only defeat in their last five Premiership Rugby fixtures was 16-18 at home to Gloucester in round 1. Sale’s 41-7 victory at London Irish last weekend ended a three-game winless run on the road in Premiership Rugby, whilst they have not won successive away games in the tournament since November 2014. Sale Sharks have lost just once in their last eight encounters with Bristol in Premiership Rugby, and that by a single point at AJ Bell Stadium on New Year’s Day 2017. Sale have made three previous visits to Ashton Gate in all tournaments, winning one, drawing one and losing one.
Teams:
Bristol Bears: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Luke Daniels, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Chris Vui, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 John Afoa, 2 Shaun Malton, 1 Jake Woolmore
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Will Hurrell
Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Cameron Redpath, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Byron McGuigan, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jono Ross (captain), 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Valery Morozov, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 James Phillips, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Luke James
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Andrew Jackson & Simon Harding
TMO: Sean Davey
*Article continues below…
https://youtu.be/YZkjqpu3_CA
Saturday, November 2
Leicester Tigers v Gloucester
(Welford Road, 15.00)
Leicester Tigers have lost their last five Premiership matches since beating relegated Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park in April, this equals their worst ever run of defeats in the competition. Tigers have not been victorious at Welford Road in Premiership since Wasps were the visitors in March. Gloucester are one of only two sides who remain unbeaten in this year’s Premiership.
The Cherry and Whites have not won their opening three matches of a Premiership campaign since 2007-08. The last five fixtures between the two clubs in Premiership have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Gloucester’s most recent victory at Welford Road was in October 2007.
Teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Jonah Holmes, 13 Andy Forsyth, 12 Tom Hardwick, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Noel Reid, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Guy Thompson, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Calum Green, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Nephi Leatigaga, 2 Tom Youngs (captain), 1 Greg Bateman.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Ifereimi Boladau, 21 Ben White, 22 George Worth, 23 Adam Thompstone
Gloucester: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Jake Polledri, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Ed Slater (captain), 3 Fraser Balmain; 2 Franco Marais, 1 Josh Hohneck.
Replacements: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Chris Harris, 23 Jason Woodward
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales & Wayne Falla
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Saracens v London Irish
(Allianz Park, 15.00)
Saracens only defeat in their last four Premiership fixtures was 25-27 at home to Saints in round 1. Saracens have not lost successive home games in the same season of Premiership play since they were defeated by Bath and Bristol at Vicarage Road in February 2006. London Irish have won just one of their last four Premiership encounters: 29-26 at Wasps in round 1.
The Irish have not won back-to-back away fixtures in Premiership since trips to Newcastle and Leicester in September 2014. Saracens have won their last six matches against the Irish since the Irish 22-13 victory at Allianz Park in February 2014.
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jackson Wray (captain), 7 Ben Earl, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Callum Hunter-Hill, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 1 Richard Barrington
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Ralph Adams-Hale, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Nick Tompkins, 23 Alex Lewington
London Irish: 15 Paddy Jackson, 14 Matt Williams, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Tom Stephenson, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 TJ Ioane, 6 Blair Cowan, 5 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4 Ruan Botha, 3 Ollie Hoskins,2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Patric Cilliers, 19 George Nott, 20 Matt Rogerson, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Brendan Macken, 23 Ollie Hassell-Collins.
Referee: Adam Leal
Assistant Referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys & Philip Watters
TMO: David Grashoff
Wasps v Bath
(Ricoh Arena, 15.00)
Wasps only victory in their last five Premiership fixtures was 27-25 over Harlequins at Ricoh Arena in round 22 last season. Wasps have not begun a Premiership campaign with three successive defeats since 2013/14. Wasps record at the Ricoh Arena in the tournament since the start of last season is won six, lost six.
Bath have lost just once in the last four rounds of Premiership: 16-43 at Bears on the opening evening of the new season. Bath have won just once away from home in Premiership in 2019, and that by a solitary point at Tigers in round 22 last season.
Bath are unbeaten in their last four matches against Wasps in all competitions since Wasps 31-26 victory at the Recreation Ground in Premiership in December 2017. Bath have visited Ricoh Arena on six previous occasions in all tournaments, winning three, drawing one and losing two.
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Dan Robson (captain), 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 James Gaskell, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Zurabi Zhvania
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Ash Johnson, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Michael Le Bourgeois
Bath: 15 Freddie Burns, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Max Wright, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Josh Bayliss, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Lewis Boyce
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Josh McNally, 20 Tom Ellis, 21 Ollie Fox, 22 Alex Davies, 23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle & Paul Dix
TMO: Geoff Warren
*Article continues below…
https://youtu.be/W1oU0Vz3MNc
Sunday, November 3
Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs
(Sixways, 15.00)
Worcester Warriors last seven fixtures in Premiership Rugby have all been won by the home side on the day. The Warriors only home defeat in Premiership in 2019 was to today’s visitors Chiefs, in March. Worcester have won their last four games at Sixways in the tournament but have never won five in succession at home.
Exeter Chiefs beat Harlequins at Sandy Park by three points on the opening weekend and then lost at Bath by three points in round 2. The Exeter Chiefs have lost their last two away games in Premiership since beating Tigers 52-20 at Welford Road in April.
The two clubs have met on 14 previous occasions in Premiership with Worcester Warriors’s only victory being 6-5 at Sandy Park in February 2018. The Exeter Chiefs most recent defeat at Sixways in a league game was in Division One in November 2003.
Teams:
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Ryan Mills (caoptain), 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Michael Heaney, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Conor Carey, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Callum Black
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 GJ van Velze, 21 Marco Mama, 22 Gareth Simpson, 23 Francois Venter
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Alex Cuthbert, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Matt Kvesic, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Billy Keast, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Sean Lonsdale, 21 Nic White, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Tom Hendrickson
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Simon McConnell
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Source: @PremRugby
