The Gallagher Premiership returns with six matches starting on Friday the 26th of April. Shaun Goosen takes a look at how the matches will pan out.
Friday 26 April
Newcastle v Northampton
20h45
Kingston Park
To Win
Newcastle 12/10
Draw 17/1
Northampton 15/20
Newcastle have another chance to claw their way to safety when they host Northampton on Friday.
The Falcons are rock-bottom, seven-points behind 11th-placed Worcester and with time working very much against them. With three matches to play, it really is a case of now or never.
The Saints could climb as high as fourth with a win but will be up against it considering the desperation of their opponents this week.
It will be tight but back Newcastle to force an upset at home and strengthen their claim to stay in the Premiership.
Verdict: Newcastle by five or more
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Sale Sharks v Bath
20h45
AJ Bell Stadium
To Win
Sale 11/20
Draw 17/1
Bath 31/20
The Sale Sharks can go as high as fifth with a win over Bath at the AJ Bell on Friday.
The eighth-placed hosts sit one-point behind Bath such is the closeness of the competition this season, and clubs will be going all out from here on to finish as high as possible with three weeks of regular season action left.
Bath, much like many other English sides this year, have struggled with inconsistency; picking up just two wins from their last five in all competitions heading into the weekend.
Playing at home, and with so much positivity regarding the direction the club is headed, Sale should grind out the W.
Verdict: Sale by seven or more
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Saturday 27 April
Exeter v Harlequins
15h00
Sandy Park
To Win
Exeter 2/11
Draw 20/1
Harlequins 4/1
Harlequins may spring a surprise when they travel to Sandy Park to take on Exeter on Saturday.
The fourth-placed visitors may have hit a slight wobble of late in losing all of their last four Premiership games, but they should be well up for a chance to knock over the log-leading Chiefs this weekend.
Quins were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Clermont in Saturday’s semi-final, narrowly going down to the French giants by 27-32, and will be looking to focus that pain into delivering a clinical performance to maintain their grip on a playoff place.
The Chiefs will, as ever, pose a number of questions but, with first spot all but wrapped up, one has to wonder if their desire won’t be outmatched come the weekend.
Verdict: Harlequins by seven or more
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Leicester Tigers v Bristol
16h00
Welford Road
To Win
Leicester Tigers 4/10
Draw 18/1
Bristol 2/1
Relegation strugglers Leicester can leapfrog Bristol with a win at home on Saturday.
One of the shocks of the tournament has been the Tigers’ fall from grace. The perennial former champions sit in 10th, just eight-points outside of the relegation zone.
Bristol may be forgiven for their fluctuating form this season given it is their first in the top-flight for quite some time, but they would do well to avoid falling foul at Welford Road this weekend.
The Tigers are a proud club and one that won’t remain on the canvas for too long. Expect their late season flurry to continue with a win at home on the weekend.
Verdict: Leicester by five or more
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Wasps v Saracens
17h30
Ricoh Arena
To Win
Wasps 19/20
Draw 16/1
Saracens 19/20
Saracens would do well not to underestimate Wasps when they clash at the Ricoh on Saturday.
In the same venue in which Saracens will face off with Leinster in the Champions Cup final to be played in a few weeks, Mark McCall’s side face a tricky test in Wasps; a team that may have endured a pretty disappointing campaign to date but are still capable of tussling with anyone on their day.
Their 26-19 win over Exeter at Sandy Park in the last round is testament to the fact, in a match that saw Dai Young’s charges slay the runaway leaders – and surprising all and sundry in the process.
With second position all but wrapped up, and with focus set to shift to the looming semi-finals, Saracens could fall prey to a Wasps side still in a fight for fourth.
Verdict: Wasps by five or more.
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Sunday 28 April
Worcester v Gloucester
16h00
Sixways Stadium
To Win
Worcester 27/20
Draw 17/1
Gloucester 13/20
Eleventh-placed Worcester can ill-afford a slip up when they take on Gloucester in the final game of the weekend.
Still very much in a relegation battle, the Warriors will only feel more pressure with a loss this weekend. Newcastle are not down and out yet and there is still every chance they could issue a fightback.
That said, third-placed Gloucester are looking to build momentum as they prepare themselves for the playoffs and will show no mercy come game day.
It may be an arm wrestle for Johan Ackermann’s men, but they should get the job done away from home.
Verdict: Gloucester by seven or more
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets.
