Guinness Premiership Preview Round 15

This weekend in the Guinness Rugby Premiership we see a top-of-the-table clash with Gloucester hosting Bath. The two form teams of the competition will play a classic West Country derby in what is probably the match of the round. 

It will happily detract from the huge off field action that has occurred within the Guinness Premiership this week, unfortunately not much of it positive.

It was headlined by Bath prop Matt Stevens receiving a two year ban for drug use.  Star centre Luke McAlister will return to New Zealand, leaving Sale at the end of the year.  Richard Hill will depart Bristol with immediate effect after the club sits at the bottom of the table.

This follows a week where the lure of money in France continues to attract top level English players away from the Premiership, which will hurt the national set up as it takes such men outside of the legal confines of the legal arrangement between the RFU and English clubs.

Most prominent of all the stories is the continued furore of Saracens.  Following news that Eddie Jones will be leaving the club (to try his hand coaching in the NRL!) reports have followed that numerous players are seeking legal advice after reports than many players will be told to leave.

But enough talk!  Let’s look at the action:

Saturday 28th February

Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby @ Kingsholm

Last round Gloucester lost at the death against Harlequins, due to the combined brilliance of Nick Evans and Tom Williams, who scored the match winning try.

They will be disappointed not to have shown more attacking menace as befitting the premiership leaders—especially with former All Black Carlos Spencer conducting the offensive orchestra. 

Still, they will welcomely return to the comfort of Kingsholm, having not lost since hosting Leicester back in Round One (lost 8-20).

Meanwhile Bath arrives with great form, having lost just one match in their last nine matches across all levels of tournaments.   However, the club will be disappointed in the way they let London Irish back into the game after leading them 17-0 early in their last outing.

Butch James has been in solid form, but will need to be more on target with his boot in this match, likely to be a close affair. Bath boasts the finest away record of any team this season.

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons @ Franklin’s Gardens

After effectively losing last round to the boot of Danny Cipriani, the Saints return home to the mightiest of citadels at Franklins Gardens.

The Saints are unbeaten there this season, and one has to think back in the annals of time to the 3rd March 2007—some 29 competitive matches—to the last time they had their colours lowered at home.

However, kicker Stephen Myler will need to be on form, continuing an almost worldwide trend at the moment for poor rugby goal kicking. However, his try assist to Ben Foden showed his and Northampton’s desire to play enterprising rugby football.

The Falcons come to the Gardens in better shape than a few weeks ago, having won three consecutive matches in recent rounds.

This has enabled them to salvage what has been an otherwise disastrous season, as for now they look likely to remain in the premiership.

They would have gained confidence in their win against Saracens last round, but at Kingsholm it is unlikely the Falcons will equally their 2001 record of four straight premiership wins.

Worcester Warriors v London Wasps @ Sixways

It would be harsh to call the Warriors woeful, but unfortunately for their faithful they have been exactly that this season, having not tasted the sweet tang of victory since 21st November last year.

However, on the 14th September last year they did in fact defeat the Wasps—courtesy of a last minute kick from Loki Crichton.  Victory in this match would be the first ever season double for the Warriors over the historical heavyweight.

The London Wasps, after struggling to adjust to their illusionary Gregorian calendar of AD (after Dallaglio)—are beginning to put in some better performances; as they do after the New Year.   

The 2007 Heineken Cup winners have not won in their previous four visits to Sixways, and will need to do more than rely on the boot of Danny Celebrani to guide them to success.

Sunday 1st March
London Irish v Leicester Tigers @ Madejski Stadium

The fact that these two teams are in the top six is somewhat deceiving.

London Irish, holding onto third spot, have not won a game since ushering a demolition job to Newcastle on Jan. 3rd.  The manner in which they came back at Bath after being blown off the park early was impressive, but failure to perform this week could see them drop by as many as three premiership positions.

The Tigers come into the match on winning form, but they have been poor on the road of late, not winning in their last five matches.

Captain Aaron Mauger welcomes back his top try scorer Johne Murphy, and they will be heartened in the fact that a strong performance will catapult them into the top four.

Bristol Rugby v Harlequins @ Memorial Stadium

Bristol is in absolute crisis, firmly rooted to the bottom of the table and almost unable to pick up even the barest of competition points.

Just after Richard Hill walked out on the club, they host a Harlequins side that will start the match as overwhelming favourites. 

As they should, Bristol has won just one game against Newcastle way back in round six, and has not collected any form of points reward since drawing with Worcester in December.

The mighty Quinns come in strong form having won their last three premiership matches, and come with an iron clad defensive record.  They have not had their line broken in 291 minutes of rugby, and it is likely that they will add another 80 minutes to that record at Memorial.

Saracens v Sale Sharks @ Vicarage Road

Sad as it is to say, another two clubs that have had too much focus off the field off late.

The Sharks have lost marquee player Luke McAlister, but will be eyeing off top position of the premiership this round.  And so they should be, as they are the form team of the competition, having picked up 21 competition points in their last six outings.

Sarries, on a two match losing streak will look to put a workmanlike performance on the park after another week of boardroom mutterings.

However, Saracens have won their last five matches at Vicarage road, and it was only a Charlie Hodgson drop goal that denied them victory over the Sharks at their last meeting at Edgeley Park.

 
CURRENT GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP TABLE

Pos	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Bonus	Pts
1.	Gloucester	15	10	0	5	324	274	6	46
2.	Sale Sharks	14	10	0	4	270	201	5	45
3.	London Irish	15	8	1	6	350	227	9	43
4.	Bath	13	8	2	3	326	264	6	42
5.	Harlequins	14	8	1	5	310	257	5	39
6.	Leicester Tigers	14	8	1	5	312	269	5	39
7.	Saracens	14	6	0	8	304	256	8	32
8.	London Wasps	13	6	0	7	245	276	4	28
9.	Northampton Saints	15	6	1	8	265	305	2	28
10.	Newcastle Falcons	14	5	1	8	216	298	3	25
11.	Worcester Warriors	13	3	2	8	210	305	2	18
12.	Bristol	14	1	1	12	162	366	3	9