In this week’s Gallagher Premiership preview we start off with Friday night’s game with four teams playing in the evening.
London Irish travel to Leicester as they take on the Tigers in a huge mid table battle in what is a very important must-win game for both clubs.
The away side currently sit in seventh on the table and are coming into this game of the back of two good performances.
They managed a 10-16 win against Wasps and a 34-34 draw against top of the table Bristol.
Leicester Tigers on the other hand are coming into this with low confidence after Round 11.
They didn’t manage a try against Bristol in their previous game losing 17-3 at Ashton Gate.
The second game on Friday is Sale Sharks vs newly promoted Newcastle Falcons.
The Falcons are coming into this game off the back of a fantastic 25-22 win against third placed Harlequins with Newcastle themselves sitting in sixth in the table.
Sale are flying high at the moment after beating the current champions Exeter 25-20 in their last match and breathing down the neck of Quins being one point behind.
This game is huge for both teams’ seasons as they’re separated by two positions and only three points.
Saturday’s games
Bath take on Exeter Chiefs at home in one of the two 3pm games on Saturday.
Bath are looking to carry on their fantastic form and a win against the Chiefs will make it four wins from their previous four matches.
The current champions will not make it easy for them though. Exeter will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Sale although still sit at second in the table with Bath just starting to find their form down in 10th.
Wasps host Gloucester at the Ricoh Arena in the other 3pm game on Saturday, two teams who haven’t had the easiest time in the Premiership this year.
Gloucester are sat joint last with Wasps 10 points ahead in eighth. Although Gloucester are on 15 points, they’ve only won two games this season and need to start getting results to avoid relegation.
Wasps are also in poor form, losing their last two games. Their last win coming against joint bottom, Worcester in mid-February.
The last game on Saturday sees top of the table Bristol Bears travel to Sixways to face joint bottom, Worcester Warriors.
This is Worcester’s biggest test of the season having not won a league game since November.
Bristol, however, are in fine form, they haven’t lost a match since the 5th of February and are smashing their way through teams with their huge physical forward threat.
Worcester desperately need a win for their own morale because teams are walking over them and have been throughout the whole of the competition.
Sunday’s action
On Sunday, Harlequins host Northampton Saints at the Twickenham Stoop. The Quins are looking to bounce back after their loss to Newcastle in round 11.
Gallagher Premiership preview will be back next week!
Fixtures:
Friday 5th March
Leicester Tigers vs London Irish
Sale Sharks vs Newcastle Falcons
Saturday 6th March
Bath Rugby vs Exeter Rugby
Wasps vs Gloucester Rugby
Worcester Rugby vs Bristol Bears
Sunday 7th March
Harlequins vs Northampton Saints
By Joseph Hayhurst
