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Gallagher Premiership

PREVIEW: 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership – Round 14

Quins hosts Sale while Tigers tackle Bears in the pick of the 14th round of the Gallagher Premiership this weekend.

Harlequins' players react after conceding a try during the Investec Champions Cup match at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. Picture date: Saturday April 5, 2025.
Image: Backpagepix

Quins hosts Sale while Tigers tackle Bears in the pick of the 14th round of the Gallagher Premiership this weekend.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Friday 18 April

17/2 Newcastle Falcons | Draw 43/1 | Northampton Saints 1/20

Falcons may feel the brunt of a confident Northampton unit when the sides clash at Kingston Park on Friday. With hot-headed coach Steve Diamond banned for six matches for verbally abusing match officials following his side’s March defeat at Exeter Chiefs, the players will have to lean on each other more than ever.

Saints eased past Castres in last week’s Champions Cup quarterfinal to give them some respite after their Premiership title defence went up in smoke against Leicester last month. They will look to take that momentum into this clash in Newcastle.

Verdict: Saints on the minus (-18.5) 19/20

Northampton to take advantage of vulnerable, coachless Falcons.

Saturday 19 April

33/10 Exeter Chiefs | Draw 25/1 | Bath 1/4

In this rematch of March’s Premiership Rugby Cup final, which also played at Sandy Park, Exeter will be hoping to exact some revenge on table-toppers Bath. Ninth-placed Chiefs come into this one off the back of a narrow defeat of Falcons, but will require all kinds of improvement to knock over Johann van Graan’s devastating outfit.

The visitors have opened up a 10-point lead at the summit of the Premiership standings and don’t look like being caught with five regular-season games to go. Having beaten Exeter twice already this campaign and coming off the back of their 61-26 Challenge Cup drubbing of Gloucester, they should have the necessary ammo to make it three from three.

Verdict: Bath on the board

Bath to maintain the pace at the top of the log.

6/10 Harlequins | Draw 21/1 | Sale Sharks 14/10

While many were quick to criticise Harlequins after their 62-0 Champions Cup thumping at Leinster, the Irish giants’ subsequent 52-0 hammering of URC champions Glasgow puts things into perspective. The truth is that Tabai Matson’s group aren’t nearly as bad as that aforementioned result suggests, and, currently three points off the top four of the Premiership in seventh place, are still very much in contention for a knockout berth.

Sale are two points off the playoff spots in fifth with a challenging fixture list ahead that includes the likes of Saracens (home), Tigers (away) and Bears (home). They pipped the reverse fixture with Quins in round one by a single point but may feel the heat from a side with a point to prove after coming under so much scrutiny of late.

Verdict: Quin on the board

Harlequins to hold off Sale and boost their knockout chances on Saturday.

1/4 Saracens | Draw 38/1 | Gloucester 7/1

Saracens are in the unfamiliar position of sixth heading into round 14. With just two points between them and a top-four place, the expected return of a number of club legends should give them a big boost as they look to deal the Cherry and Whites their seventh loss of the campaign.

Despite their 35-point quarterfinal hiding at the hands of Bath in Europe last week, Gloucester are enjoying one of its most competitive seasons in recent memory. They’re fourth in the Prem overall with a fantastic opportunity to feature in a first semi-final since 2019, and will look to rebound with what would be a big win over Sarries here.

Verdict: Saracens

Saracens to come out victors over Gloucester for the second time this season.

Sunday 20 April

4/10 Bristol Bears | Draw 21/1 | Leicester Tigers 22/10

Second-placed Bears have been at their attacking best this season, picking up some big wins already to find themselves five points better off than their opponents this week. With the margins as slim as ever, they must put their round 13 loss at Gloucester behind them fast.

Michael Cheika’s Tigers, as inconsistent as they have been at times, are still well on their way to a semi-final appearance. A win here would be huge in the context of their season, but considering they copped a 30-point defeat to Bristol at Welford Road in December, there will be plenty of work ahead.

Verdict: Bristol on the board

The hosts to get the better of Leicester again in what should be another tight contest at Ashton Gate.

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