In to round 4 and already we have had some big surprising results so I’m still looking for that clean sweep week. Here are my predictions for the fourth round of the 2014-2015 Aviva Premiership.
So how did you do in the third round of predictions?
4 out of 6 again and for the first time this season dropping below the SuperBru community average (4.17). Wasps lost a close one and Bath put in a massive performance to mess me up. I’m happy to have got the Exeter win right and the rest were very predictable.
So what are your picks for round 4?
London Welsh v Gloucester
Welsh were better last weekend, I know I didn’t put that in my review but as a few Welsh fans have pointed out to me ,they were competing until injuries took their toll at the end. Would they have won the game? Probably not but the score line was greatly inflated. Gloucester are starting to know each other, they still have a long way to go but I think they will have too much for Welsh this week. How ever I think that Welsh will be closer, maybe not a LBP but also not conceding 50 points.
Gloucester win
Leicester Tigers v London Irish
Tigers had a torrid time at Bath last weekend with their worst ever Premiership result. I’m expecting a big reaction this week even though they still have a high number of injuries, with Tom Youngs joining the list. Irish have been much better this season getting something out of every game. But this week they are against a team looking at making a statement so I think they will come up short. What will give them some hope is the way that their pack has improved this season so it should be a real battle.
Tigers win
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Saracens have not been firing on all cylinders this season but are finding ways to win. As I said earlier in the week they must walk out there knowing they are going to win in a similar way to the England world cup winning team. Sale had a good result but the score line as mentioned was flattering and it took them until the end to back up the bonus point. Away at Saracens is a hard place to go at the best of times but when your game isn’t quite on song it’s even worse. Saracens should take this one quite easily on their plastic pitch.
Saracens win
Northampton Saints v Bath
Tie of the round, this is going to be a humdinger. Saints with their powerful pack against a Bath pack that pushed Tigers around last week. Then the backs with pace, power and skills all over the place. I’m going with Saints purely as they are at home but this is going to go to the side whose pack fronts up the most.
Saints win
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
From a game of power to one that is going to be played at a million miles an hour. Two teams that like to play fast flowing rugby. Both coming off the back of moral boosting victories. For me Exeter have their game more together with the academy really bearing fruit in the form of the Hill and Slade centre pairing for example getting lots of plaudits. Obviously Quins with their host of Internationals can’t be counted out, but they do seem to be still getting up to speed.
Chiefs win
Wasps v Newcastle Falcons
Wasps will be disappointed to lose a close one to Quins, but they have started the season really well after having a horror draw. This is the first time they have faced opposition that wasn’t in the playoffs last year. This will be a real test of their consistency and can they maintain their levels when being the favourite. For Newcastle the season is looking like a long old slog and I can’t see them getting much out of Wasps this weekend even if they did compete well against Saints last weekend.
Wasps win
Last week there were comments that I picked too many away wins. Well the two I got wrong were won by the home team. I wasn’t influenced by this when doing the predictions but it’s fun to have a quick look back. So this week I’m down for 5 home wins let’s see how that pans out.
This is a fair appraisal of how things might go, and a good chance for you to get six out of six this week. There is, however, usually at least one game that doesn’t go according to plan. This week I fancy Sale to provide the shock result. This is how my thinking goes at just past six in the morning: by eight o’clock I should have come to my senses.
They certainly had a good run in last year but away to Saracens that’s a big call