Aviva Premiership 2014-2015 Round 5 Predictions

The upsets keep on coming and here are my predictions for the fifth round of the 2014-2015 Aviva Premiership.

So how did you do in the fourth round of predictions?

5 out of 6 so still no clean sweep of all the games. I called the 50:50 game right with Exeter beating Quins, the only one I didn’t get was the Irish upset win over Tigers. So all in all happy with the result.

So what are your picks for round 5?

Bath v Saracens

Bath might be at the head of the chasing pack but they are still a work in progress. After a great result against and injury ravaged Tigers they couldn’t quiet back that up against Saints. That was probably a fair guide as to where they are at. Saracens are churning out the results whilst maybe not performing at their best. This will be a real test and we’ll get to see how close to their best they are.

Saracens win

Harlequins v London Welsh

Quins have struggled this season and would never have expected to be sat 9th in the table. Their record so far has been win/loss/win/loss and that pattern should continue. Welsh have improved and have been much more competitive, for the first 65 minutes, here is another one that will be lost in the last fifteen or so minutes.

Quins win

London Irish v Northampton Saints

Irish finish their hellish start to the season by tackling the champions having already played the other playoff teams from last season. Having already taken LBPs from Saracens and Quins as well as beating Tigers they are going to be a very stern test for Saints. Saints are champions for a reason though and after seeing off Bath last week with a TBP win should have enough to overcome Irish. Should has been used and not will though, Wasps have already shown that Saints can be beaten and if they are complacent against Irish, we could be seeing another upset.

Saints win

Gloucester v Leicester Tigers

There are a number of games this week that are hard to call and this is certainly one of them. Gloucester are still trying to bed in a bunch of new players with their fly-half pulled off early last week. The score against Welsh was flattering as it got inflated in the last 17 minutes. Tigers are having one of their worst starts to a season and would never imagined they would be down in 8th. If you want to play Tigers now is the time but only if your team is functioning, I’m going with Tigers but this one really could go either way.

Tigers win

Sale Sharks v Wasps

Sale are another team that hasn’t got going this season and are still well below last seasons levels. Wasps however have hit the ground running even though they are another with a hard opening schedule. Wasps weren’t at their best last week against Falcons the first team they have played outside the top 4 last season. Consistency has been a problem for them recently and Sale will be able to punish them way more than Falcons did. Even so I think Wasps will be able to get past Sale.

Wasps win

Newcastle Falcons v Exeter Chiefs

Falcons are on one of the longest running losing streaks in Premiership history. Exeter are on a good run and are coming off the back of a convincing victory over Quins, This one is only going to go one way even if the new 3G pitch will be something for the Chiefs to adapt to.

Chiefs win