Aviva Premiership - Round 4

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Current Positions

Team	Points
Saracens	13
Leicester	12
Exeter	11
Harlequins	9
Gloucester	9
Sale Sharks	9
Northampton	7
Wasps	5
Bath	5
Worcester	5
London Irish	0
Newcastle	0

Fixtures

Friday 6th November 2015

19:45 Harlequins  v   Sale Sharks Twickenham Stoop BT Sport

Both teams will arrive at the Stoop for the first of four televised fixtures with two wins so far and having beaten playoff teams from last season in round 3. Harlequins away win at the Rec was the more notable (Only two late tries saved Bath from what the commentator was, at 70 minutes, calling a total humiliation.), but Sale's ability to shut down the Saints attack should not be ignored. While not exactly a head-to-head it will be interesting to see how the main playmakers for each side, Care and Cipriani, fare. Care still, to me, looks to be searching for form and we shall see how he responds to his first home start as club captain. Cipriani will delight in thre presence of the TV cameras, and will be out to show that he shoudl have been at the RWC. Equally fascinating will be the back row battle. Sale will probably go with the two opensides as usual, and their experienced pairing will be a good test for whoever O'Shea deigns to select.
I struggle to se any result other than a win for Quins - but probably no TBP.



Saturday 7th November 2015

15:00 London Irish  v   Bath Rugby Madejski Stadium

Misfiring Bath will arrive in Reading desperate to kick start their season against winless Irish. London Irish were handed a terrible start to the season, facing four of last seasons top 5. As the season unfolds this may prove to be a blessing in disguise - probably better to try and bed in new players and methods against teams you expect to lose against rather than against teams youshould be beating. While the attack in general has so far not clicked for Irish, their rolling maul has been hugely effective. Add in players like Maitland (who surely will improve on last week) and Irish have the tools to upset Bath.
Bath are not playing well. Beaten by Quins and Wasps, their only wion was almost gifted to them by Exeter on the first weekend. The set piece is misfiring and they have been second best at the breakdown. Will be interesting to see if Francois Louw is rushed back into the side. they are creating opportunities though. Any number of times in the first half against Quins they worked the ball into the opposition 22 only to fall over when close to the line. A mix of poor hands and white line fever allowed the boys from Surrey to constantly repel them.
Should Bath play to their potential this could be a thumping win, however I have a sneaking feeling that Irish will be scrapping for everything and sneak a victory.



15:00 Worcester Warriors  v   Newcastle Falcons Sixways

Is it too early to call this a relegation match? Worcester will feel that their win over 2014 champs Saints and narrow defeat at Kingsholm should earn them more respect than that. Falcons fans however will be watching through clenched fingers. To call Falcons poor so far would be a serious understatement. We know they have talent - but the application so far this season has been absent. A workmanlike team with great spirit like Worcester should have enough to win this with some ease. Unless Falcons brink more than they have so far it will be yet more depression for our Geordie friends.



15:15 Northampton Saints  v   Saracens Franklin's Gardens BT Sport

Huge fixture with the away team bang in form and looking to enter Euro weeks with a perfect start to the season. Saints are struggling. they seem to have reverted completely to Warrenball and as Wales are oft accused seem to have no plan B. Sarries will not back down from the physical challenge, so can Saints deliver something different on their return to a new, improved Franklin's Gardens?



17:30 Exeter Chiefs  v   Leicester Tigers Sandy Park BT Sport

Can Leicester continue their winning run this season. Having done the double in the AP last season over Exeter, and with some big names likely to be returning to the lineup they will be hopeful. Exeter should however provide a really stern test of the tigers defence. At times last season the Midlanders were over-run by sides willing to put pace and width on the ball - and Exeter are certainly capable of doing that. Baxter and his men will be fully aware that last season they allowed Tigers to drag them into an arm-wrestle at Sandy Park and will be looking to improve their own performance. Will be interesting to see which tigers Old Boys make the lineup for the men from Devon.
Exeter should win, probably denying Leicester an LBP




Sunday 8th November 2015

15:00 Wasps  v   Gloucester Rugby Ricoh Arena BT Sport

Final match of the weekend sees what will be a Gopperth-less (banned for 3 weeks so misses the first two ECC rounds) Wasps host a promising looking Gloucester team. this really could be a crackerjack of a game - though Daly and Wade will need to show more form than they have so far. Wasps could well be without Nathan Hughes following a knee injury at Welford Road. I am looking forward to seeing Kvesic against old master George Smith.
Wasps to win an entertaining match by less than a score.

Armand at the Cheifs has been the stand out backrower I've seen. Seems to be everywhere and he carries, tackles and jackles all game. Very impressed by his start.

Clifford looked good for Quins, he seems to have bulked up a bit and got some additional power to his game in the off season.

Sam James at Sale looks to be a young centre with a bug future. Left Lowe a little red faced by drifting past him on a couple of occasions and forced his way past three tackles for a nice try the week after an audacious chip try vs Saints.

Citing news!

Burger 1 match ban for acts contrary to the game

Citabini 1 match ban for punching Twelvetrees

Mckibbib 3 match ban for stamping

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/mobile/news/37203.php

No citing or mention of Devoto

Disciplinary hearings tomorrow for:

Ricardo Brugnara for the kick on Yeandle which saw a YC issued, and David Halaifonua who was sent off against Wasps.

Hearings today apparently for Brendan McKibbin and Lorenzo Cittadini who were sent off plus
Jacques Burger who received two Citing Commissioner Warnings for acts contrary to good sportsmanship in the match against Northampton Saints (equivalent to two retrospective YCs)

Beaten to the punch by Yappy

yappysnap wrote:Citing news!

Burger 1 match ban for acts contrary to the game

Citabini 1 match ban for punching Twelvetrees

Mckibbib 3 match ban for stamping

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/mobile/news/37203.php

No citing or mention of Devoto

Anyone think Bath have got shares in Teflon?

You'd have to be stupid to punch with a clenched fist. Hit someone with an open palm and as long as it's a cowardly sucker punch not a retaliation you're fine. Joke.

LondonTiger wrote:Beaten to the punch by Yappy

Yours was at least spelt correctly though


Less haste more speed.

And I'm very surprised Devoto was ignored, as surprised by that as I'm pleased to see Burger with a ban. If only Farrel had got one too

yappysnap wrote:Citing news!

Burger 1 match ban for acts contrary to the game

Citabini 1 match ban for punching Twelvetrees

Mckibbib 3 match ban for stamping

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/mobile/news/37203.php

No citing or mention of Devoto

There is also no mention of Halaifonua who'll definitely be banned so I'd imagine there is more to come including Devoto.

HongKongCherry wrote:
There is also no mention of Halaifonua who'll definitely be banned so I'd imagine there is more to come including Devoto.

covered in my post HKC

LondonTiger wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:
There is also no mention of Halaifonua who'll definitely be banned so I'd imagine there is more to come including Devoto.

covered in my post HKC

I blame yappy LT for being too quick!

HongKongCherry wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:
There is also no mention of Halaifonua who'll definitely be banned so I'd imagine there is more to come including Devoto.

covered in my post HKC

I blame yappy LT for being too quick!

Strangely so does his partner

No ones complained before now...

yappysnap wrote:No ones complained before now...

Not to your face. They have never faked either

The important phrase to remember in such situations is "premature for whom?"

Hey as long as I'm happy, I can't see a problem