There will be zero room for error or complacency when the penultimate round of the Gallagher Premiership gets underway. With third and fourth place still up for grabs, there is plenty riding on this weekend’s results.
Friday 21 April
Newcastle 11/4 | Draw 28/1 | Northampton 29/100
Handicap
Newcastle (+9.5) 17/20 | Northampton (-9.5) 17/20
Saints can’t afford anything less than five-log points when they travel to Kingston Park to take on Falcons on Friday.
Phil Dowson’s men are fourth, just two-points ahead of fifth-placed London Irish and don’t play in the final round next week. Defeat here would almost certainly bring an end to their campaign, so back them to come out guns blazing.
Newcastle are last, six off 10th-placed Bath and looking likely to remain there come season’s end.
Saints to get the job done and clear the cap.
Saturday 22 April
Harlequins 17/100 | Draw 28/1 | Bath 42/10
Handicap
Quins (-13.5) 17/20 | Bath (+13.5) 17/20
Harlequins and Bath clash at The Stoop with both outfits out to grab what would be a very valuable win.
Quins’ playoff hopes look pretty shot right about now, sitting sixth and needing other results to go their way if they are make it to the postseason. Again, it’s a testament to the strength of the Premiership that a side with as much quality as Quins isn’t quite cutting it in the playoff race.
Bath are three-points off Gloucester in ninth and will be aiming to leapfrog them before season’s end. That said, they could find themselves outgunned in London.
Bath on the plus.
Gloucester 37/20 | Draw 20/1 | Sale Sharks 46/100
Handicap
Gloucester (+5.5) 17/20 | Sale (-5.5) 17/20
Sale will be eager to seal second with a win over Gloucester at the Kingsholm.
The visitors became the second team to secure semi-final qualification last week and will now be eyeing nailing down second place. With some important players in great form, they should have enough here.
The Cherry and Whites may well find themselves dropping to 10th after the weekend.
Sale on the minus.
Sunday 23 April
Saracens 36/100 | Draw 28/1 | London Irish 9/4
Handicap
Saracens (-7.5) 17/20 | Irish (+7.5) 17/20
London Irish will need a monster effort to see off Saracens at the StoneX on Sunday.
The Exiles are fifth, just two-points shy of a spot in the top four but with end their regular season with huge clashes against Chiefs next week and Sarries here. They’ve demonstrated throughout their campaign just what a tenacious group they are, and I’m backing them to knock over a Sarries side that may well opt to rest their key players ahead of the knockouts.
Having cemented top spot, the hosts may head into this one low on desire.
Get on Irish here at 9/4.
