Darry Worthington previews the six Round 15 Gallagher Premiership games which are being played between Friday the 21st of August and Sunday the 23rd.
Image copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Well, my tipping last week was almost as bad as Rob du Preez’ performance for Sale with only two of my tips landing. While there were some close calls, it wasn’t a great showing from yours truly. Like Du Preez’ title-chasing Sale Sharks, I’ll be aiming to bounce back over the coming days. And there’s a great opportunity for both the Manchester club and me to do just this as on top of the weekend action, there’s also midweek games taking place next week.
We’ll take a look at this weekend’s six games, below, while the preview for the midweek action will come out next Monday.
Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs
Friday 21 August
AJ Bell Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Sale 31/20
Draw 20/1
Sale (+3.5) 17/20
Chiefs (-3.5) 27/20
Exeter fared far better as they got their season back underway with a clinical 26-13 victory over the Leicester Tigers. The result has seen the Chiefs go eight points clear at the top of the standings and a win here would all go a long way to securing them top spot on the log and a home final, should they get through the semis.
Verdict: Sale (+3.5) 17/20
I’m expecting a big showing from Sale here. They know they were poor last week and coach Steve Diamond will have been in his players’ ears.
Wasps v Worcester Warriors
20:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Warriors 15/2
Handicap
Wasps (-16.5) 17/20
Wasps will be looking to build on their solid showing against the Northampton Saints when they take on a Worcester Warriors side that were convincingly beaten by Gloucester last Saturday.
The hosts were in immaculate touch last during their 21-34 victory over the Saints with their backline firing. They scored some lovely tries and looked like the Wasps team of old with their adventurous rugby an absolute joy to watch.
While Wasps were making short work of the Saints, Worcester were struggling against a sans-Johan Ackermann Gloucester. The Warriors actually looked rather good for the first ten minutes of the game and held the lead up until former Auckland Blues man Melani Nani was shown a red for a dangerous tackle. It was always going to be an uphill battle for Worcester from there on in, and so it proved as they ended up going down 15-44.
Verdict: Wasps (-16.5) 17/20
Gloucester v Bristol Bears
Friday 21 August
To Win (80 Mins)
Draw 20/1
Bristol 15/20
Handicap
Gloucester (+2.5) 17/20
Friday’s final fixture should also be an absolute cracker with two sides who’ll be high on confidence after winning their Round 14 games squaring off at the Kingsholm.
Bristols victory was by a much lower margin but was slightly more impressive as they ground out a 16-12 victory over reigning champions Saracens. While it was a great win for the Bears, the actual game was a rather dour affair that saw their new star man, Semi Radradra hardly get a touch of the ball. Hopefully, the flying Fijian is more involved this weekend.
I wasn’t that impressed with Gloucester during the opening few minutes of their win over Worcester and I think last weekend’s scoreline really flatters them. I think they are really going to struggle against a talented and gritty Bristol outfit.
Saracens v Harlequins
Saracens
Harlequins
*Odds to be added on relase
*Handicap to be added on release
Saracens will be looking to bounce back from their last-minute defeat to the Bristol Bears when they take on a Harlequins side that upset the applecart by beating the much-fancied Sales Sharks 16-10 last Friday.
Saracens held a 9-12 lead against the Bears going into the final throws of the game but a late scrum penalty would see them go down 16-10. ‘Quins, on the other hand, took full advantage of Sale’s poor discipline to register their victory.
Verdict: Saracens (-)
London Irish v Northampton Saints15:00
To Win (80 Mins)
London Irish 14/10
Draw 18/1
London Irish
Northampton
Next up we have two sides who will be desperate to bounce back from defeats with London Irish playing host to the Northampton Saints.
Irish put in a rather uninspiring performance last weekend as they were hammered 34-17 by Bath. They looked extremely ring rusty when it came to the defensive side of their game and they will need to improve their rolling maul defence if they are to avoid conceding more soft tries.
Northampton were extremely disappointing last weekend as they went down 21-34 to a good but not spectacular Wasps side. Like London Irish, Northampton will have to up their defensive side of the game.
Verdict: London Irish 14/10
With both teams struggling defensively a fair amount of points could be score here. My money is on the hosts coming out on top in a high scoring thriller.
Leicester Tigers v Bath
17:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Leicester 17/20
Bath 1/1
Handicap
*Handicap to be added on release
The Round 15 action will come to a close at Welford Road where Leicester will look to bounce back from their defeat to Exeter by getting one over a Bath side that impressed in Round 14.
Leicester, despite going down by 13 points, actually put in a rather handy display against the log-leading Exeter Chiefs. While they only managed to score 13 points, they did have promising moments on attack.
I’m going to take a little risk here and back the away side for a small amount of cash.
