We head into the final round of Gallagher Premiership fixtures before the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup break.
Friday 3 December
Glouchester 44/100 | Draw 20/1 | Bristol 39/20 (21:45)
Gloucester can keep up the fight for a playoff position when Bristol come knocking at the Kingsholm on Friday.
The Cherry and Whites are sixth, just two points adrift of the top four. Considering the shocking time they had last season when they finished 11th, their current campaign has been a welcome return to form for them.
Meanwhile, this season seems to have had the opposite effect on the Bears. Having finished top of the table in 2020/21, they now find themselves 11th after eight matches with just three wins to their name. Suddenly the club’s decision to reward Pat Lam with a mammoth seven-year coaching extension isn’t looking too sharp.
Despite their recent troubles, Bristol are a side full of quality and they’ll look to this weekend as a way to claw their way up the ladder.
Saturday 4 December
London Irish 37/100 | Draw 22/1 | Newcastle 23/10 (17:00)
London Irish will be intent on keeping up their momentum when they welcome the Falcons to the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday.
Irish impressively dispatched of defending champions Harlequins 22-19 at the Stoop last week and had picked up Premiership Cup wins over Northampton and Saracens in the build-up. They’ll continue their top four push here.
Newcastle are eighth, just a single log point behind their seventh-placed opponents this week. Their impressive win at Sandy Park at the beginning of November has been dampened somewhat by some haphazard showings of late, including a disappointing 24-all draw with Worcester last week. Irish should have the goods here.
Worcester 11/10 | Draw 20/1 | Wasps 77/100 (17:00)
The Warriors can leapfrog Wasps with a win over them at the Sixways on Saturday.
Twelfth-placed Worcester have accumulated 14-points after winning just twice in nine matches so far this season. A win here would keep up the faith at the Sixways though and see them overtake their opponents this week.
Wasps are ninth, having claimed just three wins from eight matches so far. Their 33-35 home loss to Gloucester last week was their fourth in a row and has done little to lift the confidence in the side. Lee Blackett’s men are under real pressure to improve on their eighth-place finish last season.
I’m on the hosts to apply even more pain to a Wasps side beginning to feel the heat.
Exeter 27/20 | Draw 20/1 | Saracens 63/100 (17:00)
Old rivals Exeter and Saracens face off for the first time this season at Sandy Park on Saturday.
The Chiefs have endured a rather topsy-turvy start to their campaign and occupy fifth, within seven points of their opponents this week. Closing that gap against their bitter foes would do their season a world of good.
Sarries’ return to the top-flight has gone by much as they would have hoped. Sitting second, six off leaders Leicester, they’ll be intent on adding to their six wins so far this season.
Chiefs v Saracens clashes are always belters. Have a strike on the hosts, who will be eager to make a statement at Sandy Park.
Northampton 2/9 | Draw 20/1| Bath 34/10 (17:00)
Saints host winless Bath at Franklin’s Gardens looking to keep up their good start to the season.
Northampton are fourth after collecting five wins from eight. Their recent 36-20 win at Ashton Gate maintained their spot in the playoff berths and they should feel confident of keeping up the positive energy ahead of their Champions Cup opener next week.
Stuart Hooper’s side have not won a single match in any competition this season with alarm bells ringing at the Rec. Their performance against the Chiefs last week was encouraging (before they ultimately went down 16-23) but they need to start getting over the line. It’s difficult to see any other result than a Saints win here.
Sunday 5 December
Leicester 9/20 | Draw 20/1 | Harlequins 19/10 (17:00)
Runaway leaders Leicester host the defending champion Harlequins in a mouth-watering matchup at Welford Road on Sunday.
The Tigers are eight from eight, having swept all before them to sit six points clear at the summit of the Gallagher Premiership. Steve Borthwick’s side has been irresistible so far and will be eager to claim the scalp of the champions here.
Quins haven’t had a perfect start to their campaign but are still third on the standings with five wins from eight. A win at Welford Road though would lay down a marker to the rest of the teams in the Prem, especially after their disappointing loss to Saracens at the end of October.
Back a Quins outfit oozing with quality to come up with a championship showing and deal the Tigers their first loss this season.
