A new year and we enter the second half of the season. By now we have seen a lot of the teams and most have settled into a rhythm so sorry if you are hearing some of the same things.
How did the predictions go last week?
First up here a link to my review of last weekend’s action.
4 out of 6, an ok result with Wasps and Tigers spoiling my clean sweep.
Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons
Falcons are one of the most improved sides this season but even so they are still 11th in the table. Saints have just lost top spot to Bath so will be looking for a TBP win to go back top at least for the night.
Edit: Saints are still top of the table by 1 point. I was looking at Superbru.com, which have Bath and Saints on the same points and Bath top. Either way Saints will still be looking for a TBP win.
Just a little side issue, Richards was saying last weekend that they are two years a head of schedule in their 5 year plan. Whilst Falcons are going well they aren’t where they want to be in 2 years. It’s good to be positive as long as you’re being realistic too.
Northampton Saints win
Saracens v London Irish
Saracens are looking to close the gap on the top two and this is an opportunity where they will be looking five points. Irish got the much needed win last weekend to keep well clear of Welsh. Aside from that the wheels are falling off, the performances have got worse and there’s talk that the coaching staff are leaving at the end of the season.
Saracens win
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby
Chiefs have had a bad couple of weeks and dropped back to 4th in the table. They really need a result this weekend to stop the slide. Gloucester haven’t beaten a team above them since early October and a trip down to Sandy Park isn’t going to be easy. So both sides need a win and I see this one going to the home team.
Exeter Chiefs win
Leicester Tigers v Bath
This is one that I found really hard to call, Bath are top of second in the table and the talk of the premiership. Tigers have had a tough season but things have turned around as players have returned from injury. Tigers have only lost to Saints since early October and have home advantage so I’m backing Tigers but it’s going to be a close one.
Leicester Tigers win
Wasps v Sale Sharks
Wasps have won all their home games and if this was a Adams Park it would be easy to call. But as they have moved have they taken this form with them? Sharks are back to the form that took them into top 6 last season so this is another hard one to call.
Well it’s been made easy for me, the Sharks fans have asked me to back Wasps. Sharks are the team that I have the worst record predicting, getting 7 out of 11 wrong so far this season. So I’m predicting Wasps but that means Sharks are more likely to win, hope you’re still with me.
Wasps win
London Welsh v Harlequins
Welsh are going to lose, this is the banker each week unfortunately. Last weekend really sealed it for me, a win against the side just above them would have shown some hope but as it is they are 15 points adrift. Quins need the 5 points to try and close the gap on Sharks as they are over a TBP win behind. I just hope that O’Shea doesn’t come out of this game saying, everything is fixed and that they will go on a run and make the playoffs. We aren’t going to learn much, if anything from this game.
Harlequins win
Saints have just lost top spot to Bath so will be looking for a TBP win to go back top at least for the night.
Really?
either get it right or dont post sir.
Thank you for pointing out my error, the great thing about being online is that I can correct mistakes.