Here are my predictions for the first round of the 2014-2015 Aviva Premiership
Hang on, are you any good at this prediction thing?
I’m getting better, I have played the SuperBru website for a couple of years now and here’s how I placed globally for the last 2 seasons:
2012-2013 3,230 / 8,805 players
2013-2014 541 / 9,924 players
So on last seasons form I’m in the top 10% of pickers, but let’s wait and see how I go this year.
OK so what are your picks for round 1?
[1] Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester have beefed up their scrum and have a new set of half backs but Saints should win this one. The only concern this early in the season, is that the international players won’t have had as long a preseason, so are they fully up to speed?
Saints win
[2] Sale Sharks v Bath
The hardest tie of the round to pick. I’m going with Sale purely on home advantage, it’s going to come down to which team has managed to clean off the rush best in preseason.
Sharks win
[3] Saracens v Wasps
First of the double-header at Twickenham, this means that there is no home advantage and synthetic pitch for Saracens. Saracens will still have too much for Wasps, even on grass.
Saracens win
[4] Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons
Tigers rarely lose at home and this game is against one of teams that will be fighting off relegation come the end of the season. An easy start for Tigers.
Tigers win
[5] London Irish v Harlequins
The second of the double-header at Twickenham. For Quins, even though they are officially the away team, it’s like a home game as it’s just a short trip across the road and they have one of their Christmas games at the HQ. See this one as being a moral boosting victory to kick off the season for Quins.
Quins win
[6] London Welsh v Exeter Chiefs
With 25 new players and a new half back pairing Welsh are going to take sometime to settle and even then they are going to struggle. This should be a comfortable victory for Exeter with their settled seasoned premiership side but they lost up in Oxford the last time Welsh were in the premiership.
Exeter win
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