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Gallagher Premiership

PREVIEW: Prem weekend sees Exiles host Saints as Tigers take on red-hot Bears

Margins are minimal in the Gallagher Premiership with just a few rounds to go until the playoffs. The pick of the weekend sees London Irish square off with Northampton and Leicester tackle Bristol.

Steve Haag Sports

Margins are minimal in the Gallagher Premiership with just a few rounds to go until the playoffs. The pick of the weekend sees London Irish square off with Northampton and Leicester tackle Bristol.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Friday 24 March

Newcastle 21/20 | Draw 20/1 | Gloucester 84/100

Falcons’ defeat at Sandy Park last time out means they are now level on points with Bath at the bottom of the standings. With some very challenging matches still to come, they’ll need to do a helluva lot to avoid finishing as this season’s wooden spoonists.

The Cherry and Whites were well beaten by Tigers a fortnight ago and now occupy ninth, nine-points off fourth with knockout rugby now seemingly out of reach. They could come unstuck against a desperate Newcastle outfit here.

Get on Falcons at 21/20.

Saturday 25 March

Leicester 32/100 | Draw 22/1 | Bristol 26/10

Handicap
Leicester (-7.5) 17/20 | Bristol (+7.5) 17/20

Leicester’s four-game winning run has seen them shoot up the table, now lying third albeit level on points with fourth-placed Saints. Things are as tight as ever on the log and Tigers must maintain their run to qualify for the knockouts. Seeing off Bath here shouldn’t be a problem.

Bears have been in devastating form, winning each of their last five to rise to seventh with the playoff spots seven-points off. Unfortunately for them, Leicester should effectively end their semi-final push here.

Bears on the plus.

Saracens 24/100 | Draw 22/1 | Harlequins 33/10

Handicap
Saracens (-9.5) 17/20 | Quins (+9.5) 17/20

The log leaders will be eager to extend – or at least keep intact – their six-point lead at the summit. Their strength in depth will offset the absence of their Six Nations stars this week, though it may not be enough against a determined Harlequins side.

Quins have dropped to eighth after some indifferent form lately. With knockout rugby looking increasingly unlikely, they’ll be hellbent on delivering in the coming weeks to force themselves into the top four.

Quins will want this one more, get on them at 33/10.

London Irish 44/100 | Draw 20/1 | Northampton 39/20

Handicap
Irish (-5.5) 17/20 | Northampton (+5.5) 17/20

The Exiles have well and truly punched above their weight this season, and can leapfrog their opponents this week into fourth spot with victory at the Gtech. With games against Saracens, Quins and Chiefs still to come, a win on Saturday is vital for their playoff ambitions.

Northampton rebounded from their humbling defeat at Ashton Gate at the beginning of March to comfortably see off Bath in the previous round. An away win here would do their belief wonders as the season reaches its crescendo. Unfortunately for them though, this dogged Irish outfit should have the goods at home.

Saints on the plus.

Sunday 26 March

Bath 2/1 | Draw 20/1 | Exeter 43/100

Handicap
Bath (+5.5) 17/20 | Exeter (-5.5) 17/20

Next season can’t come quickly enough for Bath, who’ve just recruited Sharks stalwart Thomas du Toit to go with their star signing of Finn Russell. Zero wins this year tells you all you need to know about the Prem strugglers.

For Chiefs, whose second stringers recently claimed the Premiership Rugby Cup, victory here is non-negotiable. They’re sixth, five-points off fourth with four games left. They should have Bath’s number here.

Chiefs on the minus.

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