Teams are building up the momentum of their season. For some teams though they are still trying to get it kicked started, even though we will be nearly a fifth of the way through the season after round 4. Here are my round 4 predictions.
First here is a link to my round-up of all of last weekend’s action from around the globe.
How did your round 3 predictions go?
5 from 6, a perfect picking weekend was spoilt by a great result for Gloucester.
Here are my 1 line predictions, read below for the full reasons.
Bristol v Exeter Chiefs
At the start of the season I said that Bristol had a really hard opening 5 games and that they could end up with no points from them. They have at least got a bonus point and so they are going better than they could have been. Last weekend’s big loss to Wasps will mean that they need a battling performance this weekend for moral. However with Exeter getting a good winner their belt after a couple of disappointing losses I can only see this one going 1 way.
Exeter Chiefs by 20
Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
Gloucester really surprised me last weekend with their win up in Manchester. That will do their confidence the world of good after poor opening 2 rounds, at least results wise. Falcons will be heart-broken with that 1 point loss to Tigers and it will be a real test of their fortitude this weekend. Unfortunately though Falcons don’t travel that well and so I think this is a home win and a LBP would be a good result for Falcons. If they had that win last weekend then maybe they could have carried that momentum on but I can’t see it happening now.
Gloucester Rugby by 10
Harlequins v Saracens
Quins have had a poor start to the season and that will be worrying for them. We talked about this in #RugbyChat as this is when they should be going well. They are stacked with England internationals who they will lose in November and for the 6 Nations. I think that they have too much class to go down but they might be at the wrong end of the table if they can’t turn things around soon. Having Saracens as your visitors though is not the kind of game to turn things around. Quins got a good victory last year but that will just drive Saracens on more and I think we will have an away victory here.
Saracens by 20
Northampton Saints v Wasps
Saints have not started the way that I was expecting them to. But they were going toe to toe with Saracens until they lost a player to a yellow card. That was coming as it was a bad-tempered game and in retrospect you have to question that coach for not pulling Waller off the pitch before it got to that stage. Wasps have been going well with 2 victories over playoff teams from last season and then a big victory over Bristol. At time of writing the voting is clearly in favour of Wasps but Saints at home are a difficult beast and I’m going for a narrow home win.
Northampton Saints by 3
Worcester Warriors v Sale Sharks
Warriors have had a good start to their season with a draw against Gloucester getting them points. The performances have been better though and they should have got something from their game against Bath. Sale have had a poor start with only 1 win from 3 and for a side that finished in the top 6 last season, they will be disappointed. As Sale don’t travel well and the injuries that they have I think that they could come a cropper again. So I’m prediction Warriors to get a narrow valuable home win.
Worcester Warriors by 3
Leicester Tigers v Bath
A lot of pundits were very positive about Tigers chances of going well this season. So far through they have been erratic having to come from behind against Gloucester and so nearly losing to Falcons. This weekend they face 1 of the form sides in the Premiership in Bath. So far they are 3 wins from 3 and Blackadder is looking like a miracle worker. If you look a little closer though they have had Falcons and Warriors at home. They did win against Saints on the opening weekend but I think they might come into this game a little under cooked so I think it could be a narrow home win.
Leicester Tigers by 3
In picking Saints and Tigers maybe I’m going on the image of past glories but we can only wait and see. Do give me your views below in the comments and enjoy the rugby this weekend where ever you may be watching.
#RugbyChat
Join the #RugbyChat on twitter for an hour of discussion about the action this weekend. If you can’t make the hour then you can still give your view as the conversation keeps going over the following day.
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