We're likely to get another pulsating round of Gallagher Premiership action this coming weekend with the main event seeing Saracens take on Harlequins.
Friday 11 February
Bristol 3/10 | Draw 22/1 | London Irish 11/4 (21:45)
Bristol will be looking to close in on the mid-table positions when they take on a London Irish side that currently sits nine points above them in eighth place.
The hosts have enjoyed an upswing in fortunes of late and are undefeated in their last four games across all competitions. They head into this clash off the back of a solid 37-21 win over the Newcastle Falcons which saw them at their free-flowing best as they ran in four tries during the first 40 minutes of the fixture.
There are things to work on for the Bears, however, as their discipline was not what it should have been as they found themselves going into the second half with just 13 men on the pitch which significantly stifled their momentum.
London Irish had a far tougher time of it last weekend as they went down 24-7 to a bang in form Gloucester outfit. Irish struggled against the Gloucester rolling maul and they will need to be wary of allowing Bristol to dominate this area as well.
The Bears are on a really good run at the minute and I can’t see it coming to an end against London Irish.
Leicester 24/100 | Draw 22/1 | Northampton 33/10 (21:45)
The log-leaders are next up as they play host to the fifth-placed Northampton Saints. Leicester managed to snap a two-game Premiership losing streak last weekend as they registered an impressive 36-16 win over the Worcester Warriors. While the win was welcomed, they were guilty of some ill-discipline and ended the match with 13 men. They cannot afford to be as naughty this weekend as the Saints will punish them.
Northampton had a bye week this past weekend and it will have done them the world of good as they had a rather heavy fixtures list in January. Like their opponents, Northampton’s last fixture was also against the Warriors whom they beat 13-29 a fortnight ago.
They were far from perfect last weekend but if Leicester play with the same vim and vigour here they should be able to bag the win.
Saturday 12 February
Sale 1/33 | Draw 40/1 | Worcester 11/1 (17:00)
Next up we have the Sale Sharks and their strong South African contingent taking on the Worcester Warriors.
The hosts for this weekend were in dominant form in Round 14 as they hammered Harlequins 14-36. Rob du Preez, who was surprisingly selected at outside centre, had a solid out as the former Sharks man scored two tries, while Faf de Klerk marked his return with a try assist.
As has been touched on earlier in the preview, the Warriors had a rather poor outing in the previous round as they were outgunned by the Leicester Tigers. They have now lost their last four domestic fixtures and will need to turn things around quickly if they are to avoid getting drawn into a relegation scrap.
They’re in great form at the minute and their big guns are back. I expect Sale to win this one at a canter.
Exeter 77/100 | Draw 20/1 | Gloucester 11/10 (17:00)
Exeter will be looking to bounce back from their heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Wasps when they take on a Gloucester side that has been in rampant form of late.
The hosts will be kicking themselves after they let a six-point lead slip at the death against Wasps. To make matters worse, Exeter were actually 21-8 up at the half-time break but sloppy defending allowed Wasps back into the game and two late tries ensured Exeter would only be able to find solace in a losing bonus point.
While Exeter suffered a heartbreaking defeat, Gloucester registered their third win on the trot as they beat London Irish by 17 points. The result sees them consolidate third place on the standings and they will now look to reign in second-placed Saracens who are only two points ahead of them, and have a tough assignment against Harlequins this weekend.
I reckon the Chiefs will be distraught after that one and it may well be the hammer blow to their season. I also think an in-form Gloucester side will take full advantage of this.
Wasps 1/16 | Draw 33/1 | Bath 8/1 (17:00)
Saturday’s final fixture will see a red-hot Wasps side take on a somewhat resurgent Bath outfit. The hosts registered their third successive Premiership win with a late try from Paolo Odogwu saw them scrape home by the narrowest of margins against the Chiefs.
Bath couldn’t keep their run of good form up last weekend as they were hammered 40-3 by Saracens this past weekend. They really struggled against the Londoners massive pack and devastating backs and I expect they’ll have similar problems against Wasps this coming weekend.
Wasps are in great form and I can see the hosts winning this one by at least 20 points.
Sunday 13 February
Saracens 1/14 | Draw 28/1 | Harlequins 7/1 (15:00)
We bring things to a close in North London where Harlequins will be looking to arrest their poor recent form when they take on a Saracens side that has been in superb touch of late.
The visitors have really struggled of late losing 21-17 Bath and then 14-36 to Sale Sharks. Their slip in form has lined up with the absence of Marcus Smith who is away on Six Nations duty. They have simply failed to fire on attack since the prodigious youngster has been away.
While Quin’s struggled last weekend, Saracens were in all-conquering form as they ran in five tries on their way to recording a 40-3 win over Bath.
This should be a solid spectacle with both teams having exciting backlines. The absence of Smith is likely to hinder ‘Quins, however. Saracens to win here.
