The Gallagher Premiership Round 13 promises mouth-watering action and must win games for almost every team in their respective position.
Friday’s Action
Wasps travel to top of the table Bristol on Friday; Wasps will be looking to bounce back after an incredibly disappointing loss to Gloucester in round 12.
Bristol currently can’t stop winning after squeezing past bottom of the table, Worcester Warriors last week.
Both teams will be looking to improve on their form for this game. Bristol will look to extent their six-point advantage at the top of the table while Wasps sit in ninth.
A win on Friday will seriously help their season.
Saturday’s Action
Exeter Chiefs host Harlequins at Sandy Park in a top of the table clash that promises to be epic.
Both teams are in fine form and are separated by two points, Exeter in second and Harlequins in third.
They are also coming into the game after big victories in Round 12. Exeter beat Bath 16-38 and Harlequins beat Northampton Saints 37-19.
A win for either side tomorrow will help them put the pressure on Bristol at the top.
Bath travel to Kingston Park to take on Newcastle Falcons in the second 12:30 game on Saturday. They will be looking to bounce back after poor performances in round 12.
Newcastle and Bath only managed 16 points against Exeter and Sale who put 30+ past them.
The former are sitting in seventh but are two points away from fifth and a big win for them on Saturday will help their season hugely.
This is a must win game for Bath. A very disappointing season has left them in 10th and absolutely need a win to save their season.
Northampton Saints host Sale Sharks at Franklin’s Gardens in this busy Saturday. The two teams are sitting in very similar position in the table but are coming into this game from very different round 12’s.
Sale got the better of Newcastle Falcons, winning by 15 points, whereas Saints lost to Harlequins by 18 points.
Sale sit in fourth with Saints trailing in fifth by five points. A bonus point victory for Northampton will take them level on points with Sale but that could prove to be very difficult against an inform Sale Sharks.
Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers round off Saturday’s action at Kingsholm. Gloucester are coming into round 13 on a high after a nail biting 19-20 victory away to Wasps.
Leicester will also be looking to carry on their good form after taking a massive but very tight win at home to London Irish.
That game was also separated by one point, ending 33-32. Both teams are currently in the bottom half of the table although Leicester are three points from fifth. Gloucester, on the other hand sit in 11th and are actually five points from 10th.
If Gloucester want to save their season, they need a win tomorrow. Leicester will be looking to carry on pushing and get up the table.
Sunday’s Action
London Irish host Worcester Warriors at the Brentford Community Stadium in the last game of the Gallagher Premiership Round 13 preview this weekend.
Both teams are looking to bounce back after two heart-breaking one-point losses.
Bottom of the table Worcester almost managed to beat top of table Bristol but are still on the hunt for their first win since November. London Irish are currently sat in sixth and will be desperately trying to right the wrongs of last week.
Irish will be looking for a big win to improve their points difference and secure a bonus point and Worcester look like the perfect team for them to do that.
Fixtures:
Friday 12th March
Bristol Bears vs Wasps
Saturday 13th March
Exeter Chiefs vs Harlequins
Newcastle Falcons vs Bath
Northampton Saints vs Sale Sharks
Gloucester vs Leicester
Sunday 14th March
London Irish vs Worcester Warriors
To catch-up on last week’s Gallagher Premiership Round-up of games click here.
By Joe Hayhurst
