With the regular season of the Aviva Premiership coming to an end this weekend, Shaun Goosen looks ahead to the final round. While Exeter, Saracens, Wasps, and Newcastle have already qualified for the last four, many sides are still vying for European qualification ahead of next season. Plenty is still at stake.
Saturday, 05 May, 17:00
AJ Bell Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Sale 5/10
Draw 18/1
Leicester 7/4
Should, Sale manage to deny Leicester a match-point whilst picking up a bonus-point victory themselves, they will qualify for next season’s Champions Cup. Alternatively, any kind of win will see them through as long as Gloucester come away with no more than two-match points against Saracens. The Tigers, having already qualified, will seek to cement fifth-place with a win. The hosts should get over the line with a bonus-point win.
Verdict: Sale 5/10
Harlequins v Exeter
Sat, 05 May, 17:00
Twickenham Stoop
To Win (80 Mins)
Harlequins 3/1
Draw 21/1
Exeter 1/4
The men from Devon have already secured pole-position this season and are on a six-game winning run. They should get one over a struggling Quins line-up, who don’t have much more than pride to play for. Director of Rugby, John Kingston’s, final match in charge, should end in defeat.
Verdict: Exeter 1/4
Northampton v Worcester
Sat, 05 May, 17:00
Franklin’s Gardens
To Win (80 Mins)
Northampton 1/4
Draw 20/1
Worcester 3/1
The Saints and Warriors clash in an effective dead-rubber at the Gardens. After a disastrous campaign that has yielded just seven-wins so far, the ninth-placed hosts will look end their season on a high with a win over the 11th-placed Warriors and should do so here.
Verdict: Saints 1/4
Newcastle v Wasps
Sat, 05 May, 17:00
Kingston Park
To Win (80 Mins)
Newcastle 19/20
Draw 16/1
Wasps 9/10
The game of the weekend between third and fourth will finalize the semi-final fixtures. The betting odds indicate just how close this matchup is expected to be, but I’m banking on the more experienced Wasps to claim the win and cement a last-four showdown with Saracens. It should be a cracker of a game.
Verdict: Wasps 9/10
Saracens v Gloucester
Sat, 05 May, 17:00
Allianz Park
To Win (80 Mins)
Saracens 1/33
Draw 55/1
Gloucester 17/2
Saracens face a tricky final day test when Johan Ackerman’s – Gloucester travel to the Allianz. A Gloucester loss, coupled with a Sale win, will see the Cherry and Whites fall outside of the top six, thus a place in next season’s Champions Cup. They will, however, have another shot at qualifying via their Challenge Cup final meeting with Cardiff on May 11. Their hunger will see them cause an upset win over their second-placed hosts.
Verdict: Saracens 1/33
Bath v London Irish
Sat, 05 May, 17:00
Recreation Ground
To Win (80 Mins)
Bath 1/14
Draw 40/1
Irish 13/2
While many have been quick to point out Bath’s steady decline, it pales in comparison to that of their rivals this week. The already-relegated Irish have picked up just three wins all season and will be hard-pressed to muster the energy to go out with a bang. Bath will canter to victory.
Verdict: Bath 1/14
