Premiership Rugby Preview and Predictions Round 3
The Premiership Rugby heads into round 3 with some more cracking games to keep you busy over the weekend. In the last round we got close by predicting four out of six of the results, only the thrilling draw between Bath and Gloucester, and Northampton getting the home win against Harlequins letting us down! With another action packed weekend ahead let’s preview the respective Premiership Rugby fixtures and try to predict who we think will come out on top.
Premiership Rugby Week 3
Gloucester v Bristol – Kingsholm
Gloucester may still be unbeaten after their opening two games, however coach Johan Ackerman will still be asking questions at training this week as to how on earth did his team let Bath back into the game after holding the cards at 21-0!
Ruan Ackermann got the Cherry and Whites off to a flyer with two tries, with Callum Brady adding a third in the 33rd minute, to give the visitors what appeared to be a winning lead.
Semesa Rokoduguni gave Bath hope just before the half before a Tom Dunn brace followed by an Elliott Stooke score in the 73rd minute gave Bath what looked to be an incredible comeback win.
There was however one final twist as Cipriani passed out wide for Matt Banahan to put the finishing touches on a pulsating derby.
Bristol put on a spirited display against defending champions Saracens before going down 44-23. In a frantic 10-minute period just after the break, George Smith saw red with Saracens ending the contest scoring three tries in 10-minutes
That said, an opening win and this performance, showcased that Bristol will be no walkover team this season, with Gloucester needing to be on their best defensively if they are to secure the home win.
Friday evening should be dry at Kingsholm and if the Gloucester pack can provide forward momentum for Danny Cipriani to do his thing then there is only one winner.
Prediction: Gloucester to get the home win
Bath v Gloucester Highlights
Harlequins v Bath – The Stoop
After a superb opening win against Sale, Harlequins came crashing back down to earth with a 25-18 loss to Northampton and Franklin’s Gardens. Granted they did outscore the Saints by two tries to one, however their indiscipline let them down allowing Dan Bigger to capitalize with the boot.
Last season it was their inconsistency in their performance that cost them, something they won’t want to repeat this season, with Saturday the perfect opportunity to get things back on track in front of the home faithful.
Not quite sure what to make of Bath as of yet. Opening loss to Bristol then going down 21-0 to Gloucester, before coming back to a thrilling 31-31 draw in the second half. Perhaps Saturday at the Stoop will give a better indication. They should have identified that the Saints had the better of Quins on the deck, if they can dominate in this area, again there could be a first win of the season for Bath.
Marcus Smith had an outstanding first game against Sale with a personal haul of 26-points, and with the conditions looking perfect for an expansive game, a high scoring clash could be on the cards this weekend led by the prodigious young fly half.
Prediction: Harlequins to get the home win
Northampton v Harlequins Highlights
Northampton v Saracens – Franklin’s Gardens
This will be Saracens toughest game of the season so far after wins against Newcastle and Bristol. Saracens had to dig deep to hold off Bristol with George Smith’s red card in the 48th minute a game changer, Sarries running in three tries within 10-minutes, effectively ending the game as a contest.
Saracens scored six tries in all, Liam Williams helping himself to a hat-trick with the returning Billy Vunipola also crossing the white wash.
Northampton bounced back from their opening loss to Gloucester, Dan Bigger punishing the Quins mistakes with 17-points from the boot.
The clash also saw the return of Dylan Hartley who put in an impressive 30-min shift, something new coach Chris Boyd would have been delighted to see.
As for Boyd, this guy is a class act with great experience in Super Rugby, most recently with the Hurricanes. I expect him to make an early season impact with the Saints, signs of which were evident against Harlequins.
The only problem for Boyd is that I can’t see it happening this weekend against Saracens.
The last four meetings in all competitions between these two have seen Saracens score at least 50-points, on two occasions more than 60!
While I don’t see that sort of scoreline this weekend I do see an away win for the defending champions.
Prediction: Saracens for the away win
Saracens v Bristol Highlights
Worcester v Newcastle – Sixways
A battle between the bottom two in Worcester v Newcastle, although I have to say Worcester have been better than the second last status they currently have. A missed drop goal in their opening one-point loss to Wasps and a 21-15 loss last time out to Sale, after being 18-0 down, showcases there are plenty of positives for the Warriors.
Newcastle hold fort at the bottom of the table with losses to Saracens and Leicester, however they showed in both that they can score tries and rack up the points.
Worcester won the corresponding fixture last time out, however I think Newcastle have the attacking edge and will get the away win this weekend.
Prediction: Newcastle to get the away win
Sale v Worcester Highlights
Exeter v Sale – Sandy Park
If Exeter’s 40-6 thrashing of Leicester in their opening game was a statement of intent, then their 6-try away win over Wasps was a warning to rest of the Premiership that they are going to be fighting it out for the remaining three play-off places.
Their ability to score points after conceding and their driving maul is unmatched in the Premiership. They also have plenty of attacking threat in the backs in Argentine winger Santiago Cordero who showed great feet to score in the 11th minute and Henry Slade who scored a brace.
Sam Simmonds also crossed the whitewash twice, with himself and Slade sending a timely reminder to Eddie Jones ahead of the Autumn Internationals.
Sale bounced back from their opening loss to Quins with a hard fought 21-15 win over Worcester, although it will be a concern that they went into the half with an 18-0 lead.
Faf de Klerk’s return from international duty with the Boks couldn’t come soon enough, although with three matches in the Rugby Championship still to be played, this won’t be happening anytime soon.
Exeter have never opened up a season with three consecutive wins and were last beaten at Sandy Park in the Premiership back in October 2016.
One thing is for sure, they will register a third win and won’t be beaten at Sandy Lane this weekend. The only thing I am not sure about is by how many points Sale will lose by. By quite a few I am guessing.
Prediction: Exeter to get the home win
Wasps v Exeter Highlights
Wasps v Leicester – Ricoh Arena
Great credit to Geordan Murphy and his coaching team after turning things around from their thrashing by Exeter, sacking of Matt O’Connor to a 49-33 win over Newcastle. The Tigers have plenty of international quality and in the last round they showed it.
George Ford scored a try and contributed a personal tally of 29-points, Johnny May crossed for a brace, while Manu Tuilagi scored a superb solo try that reminded England fans what they have been missing.
Wasps may have lost last weekend to Exeter, however they showed again what they can do in open attacking play, Elliot Daly in particular showing all of his skills with a superb solo effort.
This is going to be an intriguing battle with plenty of try scoring action and despite a vastly improved performance from the Tigers last time out I can see Wasps perhaps have the tempo at home that might be a little much for Leicester to deal with.
Prediction: Wasps for the home win
Leicester v Newcastle Highlights
