The English top tier comes back with a bang as there are some evenly posied clashes and what could well be a classic between a desperate Wasps outfit and the reigning champions, the Exeter Chiefs.
Northampton Saints v London Irish
Friday 16 April
Franklins' Gardens
20:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Northampton 32/100
Draw 20/1
Irish 5/2
We kick things off at Franklin's Gardens where semi-final chasing Northampton will play host to a London Irish side who are only one place and one log point off their opponents in sixth place.
Both teams have enjoyed decent domestic campaigns thus far with the visitors winning six and drawing two of their 15 fixtures, while the hosts have won eight of theirs.
The two sides were involved in European action over the past fortnight with the Saints beating PRO14 outfit, the Dragons, 39-43 in the Round of 16 before bombing out of the tournament with a 27-35 loss to Ulster in the quarter-finals. Irish's hopes of a European semi-final berth also went up in smoke at the quarter-final stage as after a 41-35 Round of 16 win over the Cardiff Blues, they went down 26-13 to Bath.
When the two sides met earlier this year, Northampton had an easy time of it as they ran out 3-27 victors.
Verdict: Northampton 32/100
I'm expecting a big response from the Saints here. They will be livid with how they bombed out of Europe this past weekend and I reckon that anger will fire them onto a victory over Irish.
Exeter Chiefs v London Wasps
Saturday 17 April
Sandy Park
13:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Exeter 1/5
Draw 25/1
Wasps 38/10
One of the headline games of the weekend is up next with second-placed Exeter taking on ninth-placed Wasps. The visitors really need to start picking up points if they are to somehow salvage a semi-final berth; they currently lie 14 points adrift of fourth-placed Harlequins.
Exeter, on the other hand, will be trying to close the 12 point gap on competition leaders, the Bristol Bears.
Both teams were involved in the European Champions Cup play-offs with Wasps exiting the tournament at the Round of 16 stage courtesy of a 25-27 defeat to French side Clermont. Exeter went one better than their opponents for the weekend as they went down 22-34 to PRO14 champions Leinster after beating Lyon 47-25 the week prior.
When the two sides met earlier this season Wasps produced a clinical performance running out 34-5 victors at the Ricoh.
Verdict: Exeter 1/5
I reckon this will be a tightly fought game which is why I'd be inclined to back the visitors to stay within any handicap over nine points. I do expect Exeter to claim the spoils, however.
Sale Sharks v Gloucester
Saturday 17 April
AJ Bell Stadium
13:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Sale 26/100
Draw 22/1
Gloucester 31/10
The Sale Sharks and Gloucester are up next. The two sides are enjoying/enduring contrasting campaigns with the visitors currently 11th on the log with only four wins from their 15 fixtures, while Sale sit pretty in third place with 10 wins from their 15 games.
Sale's European adventure came to an end this past weekend as they were comfortably beaten 45-21 by La Rochelle. The manner of defeat was somewhat surprising as they had put in a stunning performance a week prior when they beat the Scarlets 14-57 in Wales.
Ironically enough, Gloucester also saw their European dreams come crashing down through La Rochelle as the French side beat them 16-27 in the Round of 16.
Sale managed to scrape the win when the two sides met earlier this season, with the men from Manchester edging the fixture 19-22 at the Kingsholm.
Verdict: Sale 26/10
Sale a the superior side and should win at a canter.
Newcastle Falcons v Bristol Bears
Saturday 17 April
Kingston Park
18:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Newcastle 32/10
Draw 22/1
Bristol 1/4
Bristol will be looking to pull further ahead on the top of the Premiership standings and put the disappointment of dropping out of the European knock-outs behind them. They take on a Newcastle outfit that currently resides in 10th on the standings who also dropped out of Europe as they went down 39-15 to the Leicester Tigers last weekend.
While the Falcons made the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup, the Bears bombed out of the Champions Cup at the Round of 16 phase going down 36-17 to the Bordeaux Begles. They will be disappointed with the result, it did give the Bears an extra week to prepare for the trip up north.
The last meeting between the sides went the way of Bristol who won the January fixture at Ashton Gate 29-17.
Verdict: Bristol 1/4
They are missing a few big names through injury but I still reckon the visitors will snatch a win at Kingston Park.
Harlequins v Worcester Warriors
Saturday 17 April
Twickenham Stoop
18:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Harlequins 1/14
Draw 33/1
Worcester 15/2
The penultimate game of the weekend pits fourth-place Harlequins up against the last-placed Worcester Warriors. The visitors are rather lucky as there is no relegation this season so they will stay up even if they are unable to avoid finishing last on the log.
'Quins only have the Premiership to focus on now as they bombed out of the Challenge Cup going down 21-57 to Ulster in the Round of 16. Worcester have had the past two weeks off as they were not involved in the European stuff. They were on a horror run domestically before the break, however, losing their last 12 fixtures on the trot.
Verdict: Harlequins
I reckon Worcester woes will continue here and 'Quins will get a big win.
Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Sunday 18 April
The Recreation Ground
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Bath 5/10
Draw 20/1
Leicester 7/4
We close out the round with a rather intriguing fixture as eighth-placed Bath take on seventh-placed Leicester. Both sides are still in the hunt for a semi-final berth so this game is of vital importance to them.
The Tigers come into this one off the back of a solid fortnight where they beat Connacht 48-32 and Newcastle 39-15. Bath also had a great time of it beating Zebre 27-35 and London Irish 26-13.
When the two sides met earlier in the year, Leicester won the fixture 36-31 at Welford Road.
Verdict: Bath 5/10
I reckon this one will also be a really tight one. My money is on the hosts winning it by no more than three points.
Written by Darry Worthington.
