It a weekend where the Gallagher Prem sides will be without their international stars, Saracens are tipped to battle against London Irish while Leicester set their sights on battling Bath. Shaun Goosen previews.
Friday 5 November
To Win Match (21:45)
Leicester 1/14 | Draw 33/1 | Bath 7/1
Can a struggling Bath stop a rampaging Leicester outfit at Welford Road on Friday?
The first-placed Tigers have swept all before them so far for a perfect seven wins so far this season. Steve Borthwick’s men are playing with a fierce intent that has been sorely missing from England’s most successful club for the past several years — they look like they mean the business this campaign.
Playing in the Tigers’ lair will be a massive test for Stuart Hooper’s charges, who have endured a calamitous season so far and lie bottom of the pile. In stark contrast to their hosts this week, they’ve lost all six of their matches and come off the back of a 17-27 home loss to Wasps.
Verdict: Leicester 1/14
Bath will need a miracle at Welford Road if they are to turn the tables on their shocking form.
Saturday 6 November
To Win Match (17:00)
Bristol 1/10 | Draw 33/1 | Worcester 6/1
Bristol host Worcester at Ashton Gate on Saturday looking to get back to the heights of last season.
The Bears are twelfth after winning just two from six and seem a shadow of the side that ended last season in first place. The upcoming break may have come at the right time for Pat Lam’s men, who will be favoured to beat the Warriors here.
Despite sitting just three points ahead of their opponents this week in eleventh, Worcester come off the back of a promising 27-14 win over Sale at the Sixways. That win was just their second all season and they would do well to pick up another this weekend.
Verdict: Worcester 6/1
Back the Warriors to upset the odds and claim a good win over the Bears who have battled this season.
To Win Match (17:00)
Saracens 1/25 | Draw 35/1 | London Irish 10/1
Saracens will look to head into the three-week break with a six from seven record after they host London Irish at the StoneX Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts have been a real force again since their reintroduction to the Premiership this season and boast the best points difference (132) in the competition. Mark McCall and his senior men have seen and done it all before and look as motivated as ever to prove to the doubters that their best years are far from over.
Despite having won just once this season, the Exiles are eighth after picking up two home draws against Sale and Gloucester. Les Kiss’ men followed up their impressive 33-21 win at Sandy Park with a loss at home to Bristol last week. They’ll need to front up big time if they want to earn Sarries’ scalp.
Verdict: Irish 10/1
Underdogs the Irish can pack a real punch, as they proved in their big win in Exeter. With this in mind, a small play on Irish to deliver a knockout blow against a Saracens side shorn of their international stars.
To Win Match (19:00)
Sale 49/100 | Draw 20/1 | Saints 7/4
Sale will look to end their two-match losing run at the AJ Bell when they host a confident Northampton side on Saturday.
Not unlike some other English clubs, the Sharks have endured a slow start to the new Prem season, picking up just two wins and a draw from seven outings so far to see them occupy 10th heading into the weekend. With a playoff place seeming increasingly out of reach, Sale must respond here.
The Saints have taken four wins from six and sit fourth after a promising start. Last week’s home thrashing by Leicester aside, they’ve been good value so far and could upset the odds to take an away victory here.
Verdict: Saints 7/4
Northampton are a quality outfit and may pile on more misery for Sale this weekend.
To Win Match (19:30)
To Win Match
Exeter 1/12 | Draw 33/1 | Newcastle 13/2
Exeter host Newcastle at Sandy Park on Saturday as they look to keep pace with the competition’s trend setters.
The Chiefs are enduring one of their most difficult seasons in recent memory, as the six-time finalists find themselves 13-points adrift of first place. That said, they are still fifth and picking up another win here will be crucial to their campaign.
The Falcons are ninth with three wins and three losses this season. Winning here will be a tall order for them but they proved in their victories over Wasps and Bristol that they can spring a surprise.
Verdict: Exeter 1/12
The Chiefs will be eager to get over the line here and regroup ahead of the resumption of the season at the end of the month.
Sunday 7 November
To Win Match (18:30)
Wasps 11/10 | Draw 22/1 | Quins 77/100
Harlequins will have a tough time bouncing back from their defeat last week when they face Wasps at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Sunday.
The hosts are seventh with three wins and three defeats. Losses to Saracens and Exeter have restricted their position somewhat but they will be eager to show what they can do as they begin to build up a head of steam this season.
Quins were outdone at home by Saracens last week in a loss that would have severely dented the champions’ ego. They will be desperate to hit back here and take some positivity into the November break.
Verdict: Wasps 11/10
It will be a mighty tussle but back the hosts to see this one through.
