It’s looks like anyone can beat anyone on their day but here we go anyway. My predictions for the sixth round of the 2014-2015 Aviva Premiership.
So how did you do in the fifth round of predictions?
2 out of 6 so an absolute disaster. To be fair one that I got wrong was 50:50 but the other 3 were all upsets from a pickers point of view. So whilst it looks a total dogs breakfast I wasn’t that much worse than most folks.
So what are your picks for round 6?
Leicester Tigers v Harlequins
This is a game between 2 teams who are not going well what eve Connor O’Shea said after their win over Welsh last weekend. Tigers are really under pressure and it’s showing in the press conferences. Just when you need the coaching staff to be calm and collected reducing the pressure that’s not what you are getting from Cockerill.
Quins did get the moral boosting win over Welsh and Evans has found his kicking boots again. Even though they are away this weekend I’m gong for a Quins win as Tigers are under so much pressure and that small morale booster of the win.
Quins win
London Welsh v Newcastle Falcons
Welsh had been looking better, being competitive for the first hour at least, but against Quins that all disappeared. They were leaking points from the get go and just when they needed a good performance ahead of the “cup final” this weekend it didn’t happen. Getting nilled for the second time this season as well means that they have a lot of work to do this week.
Falcons on the other hand got exactly the result they needed. A good battling win over Exeter where they had to come from behind to win it at the end. It was a full team effort with some really good tackling. I’m expecting them to back up that performance again this week and put some daylight between themselves and Welsh.
Falcons win
Exeter Chiefs v London Irish
Chiefs had a wakeup call against Falcons but still are forth in the table. This is a big game for them as Sandy Park has not been much of a fortress, but a good win against Quins could be the start to reestablishing that reputation. Also not having played any of the current top 3 finishing this first block of games with a win would be a good start to the season.
Irish are much improved this season and have taken at least a LBP from every game. I can see this being a really close game but I’m going with the home team.
Chiefs win
Saracens v Gloucester
Saracens lost their perfect record last weekend and dropped to 3rd in the table. Gloucester on the other hand jumped up to 5th with their win over Tigers. The table really hasn’t settled down yet with only a three point gap between 3rd and 4th and the rest only 1 point a part from 1st to 10th. Even so I think the gap between the top 3 and the rest is bigger than that and so I backing Saracens for the win at home.
Saracens win
Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks
Both teams recorded wins last weekend, Saints the more attritional but Sharks the more moral boosting. Saints have been beatable this season as Wasps have shown but whilst they have been pushed close by other sides they have managed to get the win.
Sale have finally got going and I think they would have strung some wins together especially with the team solidarity that was shown against Wasps. Unfortunately we are about to come to a 4 week break in Premiership games and they are away to the Champions. So I think they will come up short this week and then we have to see how they come back after the cup games.
Saints win
Wasps v Bath
For Wasps it’s a case of what could have been. They have been playing some good rugby as shown by the win against Saints. But close losses to Saracens and Quins, then what could have been a much bigger loss to Sale leaves them down in 9th. This can’t be doing moral any good and next up is Bath who have been a power house so far this season. Having already turned over Saracens and Tigers at the Rec, the only blemish has been an away loss to Saints. Bath are away which will give Wasps some hope but I just can’t see the steamroller being stopped.
Bath win
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