There is plenty to look forward to on the European rugby front this weekend, with some tasty fixtures coming your way from the Premiership at Top 14.
Pick of the Bunch – Gallagher Premiership
Saracens v Newcastle Falcons
Saturday 9 October
StoneX Stadium
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Saracens 1/16
Draw 35/1
Newcastle 8/1
It might not be the blockbuster to end all blockbusters, but Saturday’s fixture between Saracens and Newcastle should make for solid viewing. The hosts play their first home fixture since returning to the Premiership and we can expect a vociferous crowd at the terribly named Stone X Stadium.
Sarries enjoyed a strong start on their first coming back in the Premiership beating the Bristol Bears 9-26 at the always difficult to travel to, Ashton Gate. The win would have left fans thinking that ‘Saries were having no problems acclimatising to being back at the summit of English rugby but that euphoria was to be short-lived as the men in black and red were brought crashing down back to Earth last weekend as they were beaten 13-12 by the Leicester Tigers courtesy of a late penalty try.
Newcastle have also won one and lost one fixture, going down to an in-form Harlequins side in week one before bouncing back with a 13-20 win over a struggling Bath outfit this past weekend. Worryingly for Newcastle, they failed to score any points during the second stanza of last weekend’s fixture. Should they repeat that against Saracens then they will almost certainly be on the end of a heavy loss.
Verdict: Saracens to clear the handicap
They’re at home. Almost all of their British and Irish Lions will be back. The writing is on the wall. I expect a big win for the North London outfit this Saturday. Wait for the handicap – which should be around in the vicinity of the 16-19 point mark – and pile on.
Premiership Picks
Harlequins win v Bristol at 42/100
Leicester win v London Irish at 6/10
Sale win v Gloucester at 5/4
Exeter win v Worcester at 8/1
Wasps win v Northampton at 59/100
Best French Top 14 Offering
Stade Francais v Clermont
Sunday 10 October
Stade Jean-Bouin
21:05
To Win (80 Mins)
Stade 68/100
Draw 18/1
Clermont 5/4
Next up, we turn our attention to the Top 14 with the highlight of the Round 6 action being a clash between old rivals Stade Francais and Clermont.
The two sides have endured tough old starts to the campaign with Stade rooted to the foot of the table having only registered two wins from their opening five fixtures and Clermont in ninth with two wins from their five.
In terms of last weekend’s results, Stade went down 12-19 to Brive in a game that they never really looked like winning.
Conversely, Clermont had a solid outing last weekend as they beat a dangerous Racing side 26-17 at the Stade Marcel Michelin. They did have to come from behind twice in that win, but looked really good in patches against a very good Brive outfit.
Verdict: Clermont 5/4
Stade have flattered to deceive thus far and I can’t see them getting one over a Clermont side that is starting to hit some form.
Top 14 Tips
Racing win v Perpignan
Montpellier win v Bordeaux at 44/100
La Rochelle win v Castres at 1/7
Lyon win v Biarritz at 21/20
Toulouse win v Pau
Toulon win v Brive 2/9
