Premiership Rugby Preview and Predictions Round 4

Round three of the Premiership delivered some high scoring clashes with the Chiefs, Saracens and Gloucester all keeping their unbeaten starts to the season intact. Our predictions also came close to claiming a full house, only Bath with their away win over Harlequins at the Stoop getting in the way. Round four of the Premiership Rugby looks to be another hotly contested round and another tough one to call. Check out our preview and predictions and see if we can go one better and deliver a full house!

 

Newcastle v Exeter – Kingston

The experience of Toby Flood from the kicking tee proved the difference at Sixways, as Newcastle registered their first win of the season in a tightly contested encounter against Worcester. The Falcons established an early lead with converted tries from Takulua and Sinoti, however it was the home side that went into the break with the momentum following yellow cards for both McGuigan and Williams.

Early in the second half it was Duncan Weir that crossed the line to level the scores at 17-17, however the last half an hour yielded just two converted penalties for the Falcons and one for Worcester, to give the Falcons the away win.

The Chiefs reeled off a third consecutive win when they downed Sale 35-18, although it was a much tougher afternoon in the office than the scoreline suggests. Exeter are past masters at absorbing the pressure and turning it into points of their own, five tries to show for their efforts including a first for Alex Cuthbert at his new club.

Newcastle will be confident coming into this one after their win last week and fact that they managed to get the result in the corresponding fixture last season. However, Exeter have been extremely impressive during their first three games of the season and I expect to see them continuing on that note.

Prediction: Exeter to get the away win

Exeter v Sale Highlights

Bristol v Harlequins – Ashton Gate

After an opening win against Bath and two hard fought losses to Saracens and Gloucester, the Premiership newcomers are back at home and facing a wounded Quins. Last week they managed to get themselves into a winning position by going up 13-3 away to Gloucester in the West Country Derby, however five second half tries by the Cherry and Whites and an inspired man-of-the-match performance by Jake Polledri ended any hope of the Bears coming away with the win.

Bristol did play with plenty of ambition and skill, however they need to watch their discipline and try to keep hold of the ball a little more during the 80-minutes.

After their impressive opening win against Sale, Harlequins have now lost two on the bounce, last week’s 32-37 loss at home to Bath in particular would have hurt. In fact, the scoreline only showed some respectability as a result of two late tries by Marler and Mulchrone, the reality is that they were completely outplayed by Bath.

Bristol will see this as a ripe opportunity to take on Quins and inflict a third straight loss on Paul Gustard’s team. The Bears need to use home advantage to their favour and make a play early in the game like they did last week against Gloucester.

The Quins defence crumbled under the pressure last weekend and will be struggling with confidence, something Pat Lam’s team can exploit this weekend.

Prediction: Bristol to get the home win

Gloucester v Bristol Highlights

Sale v Wasps – AJ Bell Stadium

Sale may have lost to the Chiefs on the weekend but they will take plenty of positives from the game after only being 21-18 down with 18-minutes to go. In midfield they do have defensive issues as highlighted by Henry Slade on the weekend, and with the form of Daly and De Jongh, I expect this will be an area the visitors will target.

Wasps took on Leicester in the final game of round three, a clash that saw eight tries in an action packed afternoon. With the scores locked at 35-a-piece, three unanswered penalties from the boot of Sopaoga eventually settled the game in favour of Wasps.

Nathan Hughes was a real threat off the back of the scrum, while Elliot Daly has had a superb start to the Premiership Rugby campaign so far.

Willie Le Roux returns for Wasps after being released by the Boks, however despite his outstanding form in the Rugby Championship he most likely won’t feature for a full 80-minutes.

Unfortunately for Sale, Bok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk has not been released and remains with the Springbok squad ahead of their home games against Australia and the All Blacks.

Last season it was the Sharks that won a thrilling encounter 28-27 in the corresponding fixture, however I like what I see from the Wasps attack over the last few games and can see them edging this one.

Prediction: Wasps to get the away win

Wasps v Leicester Highlights

Bath v Northampton – The Rec

Last week I said that I wasn’t sure what to make of Bath so far this season after their opening loss to Bristol and 31-all draw with Gloucester. I do now after watching their 37-32 win over Harlequins. As previously mentioned, the scoreline flatters as Quins scored two late tries after being pretty much outplayed in all departments.

Northampton come into the game off the back of a 27-38 loss to Saracens at home. The Saints were still very much in the game at 23-24 with 18-minutes to go, however it was Sarries that showed their class to close out the game.

Dylan Hartley continued his comeback with another try, his form and fitness crucial for Northampton and England.

This is a tough one to call. If Bath can perform like they did in the last 40-minutes against Gloucester and like they did for 60-minutes against Harlequins, then a home win is on the cards.

Prediction: Bath to get the home win

Harlequins v Bath Highlights

Saracens v Gloucester – Allianz Park

This for me is the game of the weekend and could see Danny Cipriani going head-to-head with Owen Farrell. The defending champions have been in scintillating form so far this season and showed again that they are in the game for 80-minutes.

For those that thought bringing David Strettle back might have been a bad move considering his age, were proved wrong as the former England man helped himself to a brace against Northampton and showed plenty of pace in the process.

A slight concern for Mark McCall is the fact that his team did play for 60-minutes with just 14-men, after Billy Vunipola and Jamie George both saw yellow.

A side like Gloucester will definitely punish them if this repeats itself on the weekend.

Gloucester kept their unbeaten start to the season going when they roared back to beat the Bears in the Friday night clash. Their ability to score tries has been ever present this season, all five against the Bears coming in the second half.

Their pack has plenty of power as expected from a Johan Ackermann team, however it is Cipriani that has brought plenty of attacking flair to their backs, not to mention the power and experience of Banahan on the wing.

This is going to be a thriller and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Cherry and Whites came away with the win, however based on home advantage I see the defending champions edging this one.

Prediction: Saracens to get the home win

Northampton v Saracens Highlights

Leicester v Worcester – Welford Road

Geordan Murphy has done an outstanding job with the Tigers in the two games since he took over, following the unexpected sacking of Matt O’Connor. They were well on their way to a win over Wasps last weekend before Sopoaga finished them off with the boot, however what is clear to see is that Murphy wants them to play an attacking brand of rugby with George Ford absolutely embracing this.

Worcester sit bottom of the table with no wins from their opening three games, however a one-point loss to Wasps, a six-point loss to Sale and a 3-point loss to Newcastle, shows how fine the margins are.

That said they are at Welford Road against an inform Tigers, this could lead to their heaviest loss of the season so far.

Prediction: Leicester to get the home win

Worcester v Newcastle Highlights