What has been an enthralling opening to the Gallagher Premiership continues this weekend with the Round 5 action featuring a couple blockbuster fixtures including a clash between Wasps and Exter who both currently sit just outside the top four.
Friday 15 October
Sale 27/20 | Draw 18/1 Harlequins 63/100 (20:45)
We start things off with the second place Harlequins travelling north to take on ninth-placed Sale.
‘Quins have enjoyed a very steady start to the season beating Newcastle (20-26), Worcester (35-29) and Bristol, whom they thumped 52-24 in last weekend’s opener. The reigning champions were absolutely sensational in Round 4 with the returning Marcus Smith having a blinder at fly-half.
Sale have endured a far tougher start winning one and drawing one while suffering two defeats. One of the aforementioned losses came last weekend where they went down 33-32 to Gloucester in a tightly-contested affair that saw things get really close in the second half. Worryingly for Sale, they shipped a load of penalties in the first half and they will need to up their discipline here if they are to snap a two-game losing streak.
Verdict: Harlequins 63/100
Sale are still missing a number of their big guns and I can’t see them keeping up with the reigning champions this Friday evening.
Saturday 16 October
Wasps 9/4 | Draw 21/1 | Exeter 38/100 (16:00)
The highlight of the weekend is next up with the fifth-placed London Wasps taking on sixth-placed Exeter.
The Chiefs head into this one having stopped the rot after bouncing back from defeats in Round 1 and 2 to claim wins over Sale (15-25) and Worcester (42-5). They really impressed during last weekend’s clash with the Worcester Warriors and looked more like the team that made it to last season’s Premiership final than the shambles of a side that turned out during the opening weeks of this season.
Wasps have played a game fewer than their opponents and have enjoyed a very positive start claiming wins over Bristol (44-8) and Northampton (26-10). They did hit a speed bump between these two fixtures, however, as they went down 18-14 to Newcastle.
Verdict: Exeter 38/100
I rather fancy the visitors here. Well, a win over Worcester is hardly reason to declare they’re back to their best, but they did impress me enough to get the nod for this weekend.
Worcester 24/10| Draw 20/1 | Leicester 7/20 (16:00)
Next up we’ve got a top of the table versus relegation contenders clash with the high-flying Leicester Tigers taking on the tenth-placed Worcester Warriors.
The Tigers head to Worcester undefeated having racked up some impressive wins to boot with a 34-19 win over Exeter and a grinding 13-12 win over Saracens being the picks of the bunch. They were less impressive last weekend, however, as they only managed a 16-21 win over a London Irish side that is really struggling at the minute.
Conversely, the Warriors start to the season has been rather poor when compared to their opponents with the men from Worcester managing just one win – against a woeful London Irish at that – from their four games. To compound matters, they head into this one having shipped 42 points to a far from vintage Exter side this past weekend.
Verdict: Leicester 7/20
They’re in great touch and I can see them hammering a Worcester side that may struggle this season.
Newcastle 1/1 | Draw 21/1 | Bristol 84/100 (16:00)
A struggling Bristol Bears outfit will be looking to kick start their campaign when they take on a hit and miss Falcons outfit.
The hosts head into this one having won two and lost two of their four fixtures. One of their aforementioned defeats came last weekend where they went down 37-23 to Saracens. They played well for portions of the game but just couldn’t really string enough attacking phases together to really challenge the Londoners.
Bristol have endured an even worse start with last season’s semi-finalists having only managed to claim a solitary win thus far. They suffered their worst defeat of this campaign last weekend going down 52-24 to ‘Quins. They are really struggling defensively at the minute and will need to up their game ten-fold if they are to challenge for another semi-final berth.
Verdict: Newcastle 1/1
The Bears have been woeful and I simply cannot see them turning things around at this juncture. As such, I’m all over the home win.
Sunday 17 October
Bath 26/10 | Draw 22/1 | Saracens 32/100 (16:00)
Cellar-dwellers Bath will be looking for their first win of the campaign when they take on a Saracens side that is slowly but surely moving its way up the Gallagher Premiership log standings.
The hosts have really struggled on attack thus far and have only managed to rack up 52 points in their three outings. And while they have been solid defensively, they aren’t scoring enough points to win fixtures.
Saracens have enjoyed a far more productive start to the season and have won two of their three fixtures. They were in fine fettle this past weekend as well as they beat Newcastle by 14 points.
Verdict: Saracens 32/100
Saracens look like they are about to click and I think Bath will be in for a tough old time of it this coming weekend.
Irish 73/100 | Draw 21/1 | Gloucester 23/20 (16:00)
We’re off to the Brentford Community Stadium next, and while the football side that plays at this venue is faring well in the Premier League, the rugby team that calls the stadium home are certainly battling.
Things could get a lot worse for this Irish side this coming weekend as not only do they come into this one off the back of a heartbreaking defeat to Leicester, but they also take on a Gloucester side that is starting to hit their straps.
The visitors head for Brentford having registered back to back wins beating the Warriors 23-31 in Round 3 and followed that up with a 33-32 win over Sale this past weekend.
Verdict: Gloucester 23/20
This one could be rather entertaining with both sides knowing their way to the try line. My money is on the visitors winning a high-scoring affair with room to spare.
