Aviva Premiership - Round 4 Preview

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Table:

Friday 27th September

19:45 Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks (BT Sports)
Saints and Sharks enter this fixture both with two wins and separated by a single point in the table. Do not let that fool you into thinking this will be close. Sale are a decent, workmanlike side - but Saints, always powerful, now have a real sprinkling of stardust. Northampton will be hurting from the nature of their defeat last week, but will hopefully have reflected on the things they failed to do to secure the victory Mallinder felt his team deserved. Mallinder has spoken about the need to rotate his team more than they usually do if they are to reach the end of the season with enough left in the tank to win a trophy. With their smaller than average squad, that may be tricky - and for this game probably just means that the Pisi brothers will return to the team.
Steve Diamond was rather cagy when discussing Danny Cipriani's performance last week. He knows that he has a match winner on his hands, but at the same time there is obviously something about Cipriani's dedication that rubs the Sale boss up the wrong way. With Nick McLeod looking to have picked up a serious injury, their is little alternative to the former england man. I do wonder though just how strong the team around him will be. I can see Diamond resting a number of players ahead of their home fixture next week.

Surely a comfortable win for Saints



Saturday 28th September

15:00 Bath Rugby v London Irish
So, did Gary gold and Mike Ford rest players to save them, or did they really think they had the right tactics last week. Irrelevant now, but Gold looked rather chastened in post match interviews. For the return to the Rec we can expect to see the powerful players omitted last week, and George Ford, re-instated to the starting lineup. The LI old boys will be especially keen to impress against their old team. While Jonathan Joseph is in the EPS and Matt Garvey gets the 606 plaudits I reckon that Anthony Watson will turn out to be the biggest success. I fully expect him to show LI what they are missing.
London Irish of course still have some excellent backs themselves, from the experienced Irish half-backs to the every improving Marland Yarde. With 4 tries in 3 matches Yarde has shown power, pace and an eye for the line. Will surely earn more England caps this season. However in the end, like most matches, this will be decided by the battle up front. Bath's pack looks too big and too strong.

Bath to win by more than 7


15:00 London Wasps v Worcester Warriors
The two bottom teams meet in a vital clash. With the number of points that Warriors have been conceding, DR Dean Ryan should perhaps spend more time working on his team's frailties and less on moaning about referees. Worcester do not look like a side who will score lots of tries, so they must improve their defence.
Wasps have garnered 3 LBPs from their 3 matches - all effectively away from home. As they play yheir first match at their own ground this week, they will feel that they are just a tiny improvement away from winning games. Losing however can become a habit and Wasps will be desperate to win this one and avoid heading to Saracens in round 5 seeking their first win.

Gut feel that Wasps will turn it on for a comfortable win



15:15 Harlequins v Saracens (BT Sports)
Probably the highlight of this rounds fixtures, sees the two losing semi-finallists from last season meet for the first time this season. Against a poor Worcester team, Quins showed championship winning form last week. If they can play at, or close to, their best they should be able to win this match. Saracens however are in stunningly good form. If you cannot dominate them up front, they are very good at steam rollering teams. This has already been demonstrated against three packs which, for various reasons, are not the strongest Sarries will face.
Quins will be the toughest match so far for Sarries, but are they strong enough? Certainly the more technical Quins front row will look to get the ref on their side early, whilke elsewhere they will be looking to move the bigger pack around and tire them out. In the end I feel this match will be decided at the breakdown. Sarries are expert at slowing down opposition ball, some would argue killing the ball and Quins have to counter this.

Saracens continue winning ways




Sunday 29th September

14:00 Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers (BT Sports)
In their first televised match of the season, Chiefs welcome the defending champions looking to replicate the results of two seasons ago. Both sides have two wins, and whoever seals victory in this match will find themselves in the Top4. Both sides have injury issues, but then who doesn't. Tigers will need to play better than they have so far this season if they are to travel home with a win.


Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester secured their first win of the season in controversial fashion last week, while Falcons appeared to gift tigers victory by resting key players. Falcons have to pick a big pack and hope that Blair and Clegg/Godman can keep them in the right part of the pitch. Thing is, even then Gloucester look to have too much ability.

Gloucester to continue the new found winning habit

Well the Irish are renowned for their TH's Nick.....

 

Bath team:

15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Matt Banahan
10. George Ford
9. Peter Stringer
1. Paul James
2. Rob Webber
3. David Wilson
4. Dominic Day
5. Dave Attwood ( c )
6. Matt Garvey
7. Guy Mercer
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements

16. Ross Batty
17. Anthony Perenise
18. Kane Palma-Newport
19. Stuart Hooper
20. Alafoti Fa'osiliva
21. Martin Roberts
22. Ollie Devoto
23. Tom Biggs

Pretty much as strong as it could be considering injuries/ international absentees. Hopefully that big pack will be out to prove a point after the shaming of last week. Looking forward to seeing how that midfield works out, I would imagine the 2 wings will be switching in/out with them too.

Harlequins have announced the team that will play Saracens in Round 4 of the Aviva Premiership at the Twickenham Stoop tomorrow, kick-off 3.15pm (Live on BT Sport).

Winger Tom Williams will make his 200th competitive appearance for the club as he starts in an unchanged starting side from last week’s victory over Worcester Warriors.

Nick Easter continues in the second row with George Robson. Captain Chris Robshaw leads the team from openside flanker and is joined in the back row with Maurie Fa’asavalu and Tom Guest.

In the backs, Tom Casson continues his centre partnership with George Lowe, while Danny Care and Nick Evans are named at half backs.

The one change to last week’s squad is in the replacements as Matt Hopper is named in place of Sam Smith.

Jordan Turner-Hall saw a specialist and required surgery on a hip injury last Saturday. The centre is expected to be out until the New Year and joins Joe Gray, Paul Doran Jones, Charlie Matthews, Nick Kennedy, Sam Twomey, Ross Chisholm, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Sam Stuart and Harry Sloan on the list of those who are unavailable for selection due to injury.

Harlequins Team

15. Mike Brown
14. Tom Williams
13. George Lowe
12. Tom Casson
11. Ugo Monye
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Rob Buchanan
3. Will Collier
4. Nick Easter
5. George Robson
6. Maurie Fa’asavalu
7. Chris Robshaw (C)
8. Tom Guest

16. Dave Ward
17. Mark Lamber
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. George Merrick
20. Luke Wallace
21. Karl Dickson
22. Ben Botica
23. Matt Hopper

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 David Strettle, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 George Kruis, 4 Steve Borthwick (capt), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Nick Auterac, 19 James Johnston, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Michael Tagicakibau, 23 Jack Wilson

Got to target those centres and maybe that front row

Baths side on paper looks quality.

gonna be a real challenge for Irish.

Perhaps not the best defensive backline from Bath so be good to have a run at them when we get the chance.

Leicester Tigers (v Exeter Chiefs, Sandy Park, Sunday 2pm)
15 Niall Morris
14 Blaine Scully
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Anthony Allen
11 Adam Thompstone
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 Geoff Parling
6 Ed Slater
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Graham Kitchener
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Sam Harrison
22 Owen Williams
23 Dan Bowden

With Mafi, Croft and Waldrom out Ed Slater switches to blindside (where he finished last weeks game) in what is a very big Tigers pack.

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE LEICESTER TIGERS
15 Phil Dollman 14 Ian Whitten 13 Jason Shoemark 12 Sam Hill 11 Tom James 10 Gareth Steenson 9 Haydn Thomas
1 Brett Sturgess 2 Jack Yeandle 3 Hoani Tui 4 Dean Mumm (capt) 5 Damian Welch 6 Tom Johnson 7 James Scaysbrook 8 Dave Ewers
16 Chris Whitehead 17 Ben Moon 18 Carl Rimmer 19 Tom Hayes 20 Ben White 21 Dave Lewis 22 Henry Slade 23 Matt Jess

As good a Tigers side as could be expected but a touch disappointed that Bowden is on the bench instead of Purdy. We won't use Bowden unless their is an injury, Purdy would have offered impact off the bench.

Slater will struggle to match Tom Johnsons pace, but that is definitely a tigers pack selected for a battle. In the backs well I see what you say about Purdy - but it was unlikely to happen. Scully on the wing will be interesting

Henson has been dropped from the 23 - finally! He's been average at best. A strong Bath side out, we have to target a TBP.

I'm struggling to see past a Tiggers' win sadly - I'm all for continuity and rewarding success, but that Exe team will need a serious tep up in performance from the Exiles game to match Leics

Bathite wrote:Henson has been dropped from the 23 - finally! He's been average at best. A strong Bath side out, we have to target a TBP.

DeVoto instead of Heathcote on the bench. Could he run the game from 10 if Ford was injured early?

Falcons for Glos on Sunday

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Adam Powell, 12 James Fitzpatrick, 11 Tom Catterick, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Mike Blair, 1 Franck Montanella, 2 Matt Thompson, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 4 Carlo del Fava, 5 Dom Barrow, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (c), 8 Ally Hogg

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Scott MacLeod, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Phil Godman, 23 Alex Crockett

Fitzy????

We seriously need to bring in more centre options.

LondonTiger wrote:

Bathite wrote:Henson has been dropped from the 23 - finally! He's been average at best. A strong Bath side out, we have to target a TBP.

DeVoto instead of Heathcote on the bench. Could he run the game from 10 if Ford was injured early?

After last week he couldn't do any worse than McHeathcote.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Falcons for Glos on Sunday

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Adam Powell, 12 James Fitzpatrick, 11 Tom Catterick, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Mike Blair, 1 Franck Montanella, 2 Matt Thompson, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 4 Carlo del Fava, 5 Dom Barrow, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (c), 8 Ally Hogg

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Scott MacLeod, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Phil Godman, 23 Alex Crockett

Andy Saull's move up north not working out?

I have to say he looked completely disinterested during the replacements in-match warmups last week.

LondonTiger wrote:

Bathite wrote:Henson has been dropped from the 23 - finally! He's been average at best. A strong Bath side out, we have to target a TBP.

DeVoto instead of Heathcote on the bench. Could he run the game from 10 if Ford was injured early?

Why not? Only one way to find out and with being disrespectful to Irish, with their injury list and at home, it is surely one of the lower risk games to try him in

Agreed on Slater. The man is quick, strong and powerful but the additional work rate in the loose that will be expected from him as a flanker will mean he'll have to put a real shift in. His favourite position was 6 when he signed for Tigers, he's just a much better lock.

We should have plenty of go forward with Slater, Youngs, Crane and Logo all smashing the ball up. Get the front foot ball and get Goneva in space.

LondonTiger wrote:

Bathite wrote:Henson has been dropped from the 23 - finally! He's been average at best. A strong Bath side out, we have to target a TBP.

DeVoto instead of Heathcote on the bench. Could he run the game from 10 if Ford was injured early?

With McHeathcote being injured for most of last season, Devoto has been getting a fair amount of game time, so I would like to think between him and Eastmond we would have enough 1st reciever options. I don't know if Heathcote has a knock, seems harsh to drop him if not, he could do with game time behind the 1st choice pack.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:I'm struggling to see past a Tiggers' win sadly - I'm all for continuity and rewarding success, but that Exe team will need a serious tep up in performance from the Exiles game to match Leics

Sadly, I agree. Hoping the indomitable Tommy Hayes leads a last 20 comeback from the bench for an LBP.  

So how many do you think the saints will win by?

Haven't seen anything of Sale yet. I reckon just over one score.

17

I'm glad to see that Mallinder seems to be brushing aside the end of last week. He seemed to during the week as well. Maybe kicking out at the boards should be encourage

I'm hoping for something special from ciprani

HammerofThunor wrote:I'm glad to see that Mallinder seems to be brushing aside the end of last week. He seemed to during the week as well. Maybe kicking out at the boards should be encourage

He's always like that, it's why they never let west talk! Lol

Good luck both teams!

Hope for a good game

Saints seem to be playing a tactic of laying on the wrong side

Hoping for a Sale win. Closest thing to a home team in the premiership (and probably championship). Only 40 miles

I thought saints scrum was going to be on top, sale are doing well

Some good work by Sale.

Burrell in for Barritt? Big ball carrier. Seems to be using more than his bulk from what I've seen this season.

Looked like a double knock on there.

HammerofThunor wrote:Burrell in for Barritt? Big ball carrier. Seems to be using more than his bulk from what I've seen this season.

He should certainly be in the starting team

Rose is worst ref in the AP, guys a disgrace

Ref needs to shout which number he's talking too.

Thought Elliott had that but good pass up.

Edit: from the top view the pass was definitely the right thing to do.

Cyprian 1 - saints fans 0

Saints rolling away is slow motion

Good try, no obstruction for me.

Sale got to score

Couldn't of happened to a nicer person. Always been a bit hot headed

Don't like Dawson as commentator

He's still got it.

Hartley straight in the side.

Sgt did he stamp on you in a game in the past or something? I think he's been pretty consistent and didn't hesitate to bring out the yellow card which Clark richly deserved (how stupid was that penalty?).

Sale need to look after the ball a bit better and work on the continuation of the attack. There's too many slow forward carries which peter out and doesn't leave much for the backs leading to knock ons or turnovers.