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Gallagher Premiership

PREVIEW: Gallagher Premiership charges into 2022

Things largely went according to script last week in the Gallagher Premiership. This week serves up some tasty fixtures, with Saracens travelling to Northampton and Exeter hosting Bristol.

Billy Vunipola of Saracens - Gallagher Premiership
Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports

Things largely went according to script last week in the Gallagher Premiership. This week serves up some tasty fixtures, with Saracens travelling to Northampton and Exeter hosting Bristol. Shaun Goosen previews.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Saturday 1 January

Sale 27/100 | Draw 22/1 | Wasps 3/1 (16:00)

Sale host Wasps at the AJ Bell looking to bag a fourth win of the campaign. The season has been one to forget for the men from Manchester, as they occupy 11th on the standings with five losses from nine to their name. Eighth-placed Wasps are five points better off than the hosts but have hardly fared much better themselves. The Londoners’ 38-30 win over the Exiles on Boxing Day ended a six-game losing streak, and they will be eager to begin a good run of results starting here. Back them to upset.

Exeter 1/4 | Draw 22/1 | Bristol 32/10 (18:30)

The Chiefs welcome a hurting Bristol outfit to Sandy Park on Saturday. The Bears went down to Leicester in the 83rd-minute on Boxing Day in a cracker of a game as Pat Lam’s boys let slip the chance to end a three-match losing run and claim just a fourth win in the Prem this season. They’ll be looking to aim their hurt at Exeter here, another side that have grossly underperformed this season. Rob Baxter’s men haven’t been at their best and should be wary of a backlash from Bristol here. This’ll be a tight one but the visitors may just want this one more. Small play on Bristol is the way to go here. 

Sunday 2 January

Leicester 1/8 | Draw 22/1 | Newcastle 56/10 (17:00)

What more can be said of the Tigers? Their perfect season continues after their last-gasp defeat of the Bears last week which powered them to 45 log points — eight more than next-best Sarries. Even with an ongoing investigation into a potential historic salary cap breach, they should be focused enough to see off the challenge of ninth-placed Newcastle. Leicester all day.

Saints 18/10 | Draw 20/1 | Saracens 48/100 (17:00)

Northampton’s defeat at The Stoop was a tough one to take, having been 21-7 up at one stage before ultimately folding 41-27 in the wet. They’ll need to channel that frustration into the right areas this week if they are to upset a Saracens team determined to make their return to the Premiership count. Mark McCall’s men are second after a storming campaign thus far but could come unstuck if Saints deliver another big showing at home. Northampton are no pushovers at Franklin’s Gardens and may just pip the North Londoners here. 

Gloucester 9/10 | Draw 20/1 | Harlequins 96/100 (17:00)

The Cherry and Whites may struggle to maintain their great run of form when they face Quins at the Kingsholm. The visitors produced a seriously impressive performance to beat Northampton on Monday and will be fuelled with confidence come the weekend. Gloucester should be competitive for the majority of the contest but may ultimately become Quins’ fourth victim in succession.

Monday 3 January

Irish 1/7 | Draw 25/1 | Bath 48/10 (17:00)

Irish’s 30-38 defeat at the Ricoh Arena brought an end to their five-match unbeaten run, but they should be back to winning ways when they host Bath. Without a single victory all season, director of rugby Stuart Hooper has been busy building towards next season after signing Johann van Graan to take over as coach and is reportedly in talks with Curwin Bosch. Unfortunately for the visitors, there’s just no telling when the misery will end. Back the Exiles to get back to winning ways. 

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