Shain Goosen previews the weekend's Gallagher Premiership fixtures which see Sale looking to keep their play-off hopes alive, Exeter playing host to table-topping Leicester, Bristol making the trip to North London to face Saracens and more!
Friday 25 March
Gloucester 1/10 | Draw 25/1 | Worcester 6/1 (21:45)
Gloucester host Worcester at the Kingsholm on Friday looking to strengthen their playoff ambitions. The Cherry and Whites are fifth, but trail fourth-placed Exeter by just two points with a game in hand. They should bounce back from their loss at Sale with a win over 11th-placed Worcester here.
Gloucester should have very little trouble against the Warriors here.
Saturday 26 March
Wasps 1/9 | Draw 30/1 | Newcastle 56/10 (17:00)
Newcastle will look to take the momentum from their recent win over the Tigers into their clash with Wasps at the Ricoh on Saturday. The Falcons haven’t won in the Premiership since November but upset Leicester in a Cup clash which they will hope can give them some added impetus this weekend. They could well upset Wasps here.
Bit of a long shot for the weekend, but I reckon Newcastle could spring a surprise in Coventry on Saturday.
Bath 22/10 | Draw 20/1 | Sale 39/100 (17:00)
Sale can keep alive their play-off push at The Rec against Bath on Saturday. The Sharks are four points off the top-four and will be confident of beating their last-placed hosts – especially with a good Prem win over Gloucester under the belt.
I fully expect Sale to grab the win here against a Bath outfit who have improved since the turn of the year. It should be a close-run thing, though.
London Irish 43/100 | Draw 20/1 | Northampton 2/1 (17:00)
London Irish welcome Saints to the Brentford Stadium on Saturday seeking to close the gap on the playoff spots. The hosts are sixth, three points off the top four and five ahead of their opponents this week. They’ll be confident after seeing off Quins and could sneak this one.
London Irish have been the surprise package during this campaign and should be good enough to beat Northampton out in Brentford.
Saracens 1/9 | Draw 28/1 | Bristol 58/10 (17:00)
Second-places Saracens host Bristol at the StoneX on Saturday with the chasing pack hot on their heels. Sarries are a single point ahead of third-placed Harlequins, albeit with a game in hand. Bristol are 10th but won’t be able to match Sarries’ desire or intensity here.
There’s only one result here. Bristol have been so poor this season and should get rolled up in North London
Sunday 27 March
Exeter 82/100 | Draw 22/1 | Leicester 1/1 (16:00)
The clash of the round sees Exeter host Leicester at Sandy Park on Sunday. With the returning Six Nations internationals expected to slot in, Sunday’s game will be a whopper. Leaders Leicester could sneak it though, with Exeter blowing hot and cold this season
There’s big value on Leicester here at even money. Back them to claim their 17th win of the campaign here.
