The Gallagher Premiership season will come to its conclusion at Rugby HQ this weekend with the reigning champions Exeter taking on dark horses Harlequins.
The Chiefs head into this one as firm favourites with the bookmakers but will need to be wary as they face a Harlequins side that is on a high after staging one of the greatest comebacks in Premiership Rugby history against Bristol last weekend.
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Saturday 29 June
Twickenham Stadium
18:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Exeter 2/11
Draw 28/1
Harlequins 42/10
Handicap TBA
Exeter
Harlequins
Exeter
The Chiefs may not have been at their scintillating best this term but they have managed to book themselves yet another final after they beat a solid Sale outfit 40-30 in one of last weekend’s pulsating semi-finals.
Exeter’s finest rolled back the years last weekend with a number of their tries being scored from tap-and-go’s. This has been a tactic of theirs throughout the season and don’t be surprised if they try it a couple more times this Saturday.
There’s was some criticism towards Rob Baxter last weekend – mainly from those with Scottish roots – as he opted to leave British and Irish Lion Stuart Hogg out of his starting XV and instead field Chiefs legend Jack Nowell. The critics were made to eat humble pie, however, as Nowell was extremely influential for the Chiefs and managed to grab two tries. Expect the England man to have a big impact on the game this weekend as well.
Harlequins
While the Chiefs v Sale game was a cracker, the Bristol, Harlequins semi-final was an absolute epic. Quins would go on to win in the semi-final in which at one point they were 28-0 down.
Number eight Alex Dombrandt would spark Quins back to life with a try just before the half-time whistle. They would then only allow Bristol to score three second-half points while they added 23 to their tally to force extra time, with tries from Tyrone Green and Joe Marchant seeing them take the spoils in additional time.
Speaking of Green, the former Lions man was brilliant in the number 15 jersey last week and his battle with Jack Nowell will make for extremely interesting viewing.
Verdict: Harlequins (+)
Exeter only managed to win the last game between the sides by a solitary point and I reckon we’re in for yet another tight one here. As such, I will be jumping on the Quins plus.
