Every year, around the RBS 6 Nations, the Aviva Premiership kicks
up a gear in terms of the importance surrounding every single point that is
either earned or lost for with just 7 rounds left of table table normally little room for error and this year is no exception to that rule. The quality of the individuals released by England adds first some class expertise back to some squads however others remain without many of their most influential individuals. All in all the stage is set for an enthralling round of domestic rugby and one that I cannot wait to watch pan out, alongside the RBS 6 Nations action.
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The Round starts at Franklin’s Gardens where the Northampton Saints will host Harlequins. Last weekend at
The Rec the Saints showed exactly why they are the leaders of the pack as they combined together a purposeful power game with fluid attacking rugby and I fully expect them to deliver the same output on home soil. This season Harlequins are having a tough time
of it; they have lost their last four matches in all competitions and have
struggled to deliver consistent performances. Precision and not over thinking proceedings will
be top of Conor O’Shea’s wish list for against the league leaders any chances
that they are given, or create, must be taken. With the manner in which the league leaders are playing I expect them to extend their lead at the top of the table and make minimal changes to their starting XV. Harlequins must raise their game, especially in their backs and deliver the sparkle that we know they are capable of. Spotlight on; Courtney Lawes has been released from England and should be take
to the pitch the Quins players better watch out, as he has a point to prove
from the word go.
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The Saturday fixtures begin in Oxford with a match that London Welsh have titled The ‘Battle of the Exiles’. The home side’s
season remains a battle in itself, minus 545 is a harrowing points difference and
being comprehensively beaten for 15 rounds in a row will have taken a
tremendous emotional toll on the entire squad. In saying that Welsh must dust
themselves off, pick themselves up and focus on their objectives of delivering
an eighty minute performance and executing a consistent and secure defensive line. London Irish’s season
has fallen flatter than they would have liked and the words ‘transition’ and ‘period’
are very much appropriate once again. Against Leicester they were given a scrummaging lesson
and proficiency in that area must be rectified for out the back they have exciting individuals;
Lewington, Fenby and Fowlie that need a platform to work off. The Battle of the Exiles may not be the
prettiest game of the weekend but it will be fiercely contested. Spotlight
on; The Irish pack, the likely starters of Tom Court, David Paice and
Halani Aulika must right their wrongs.
In the East Midlands the Leicester
Tigers will host the Sale Sharks and go in search of their fifth win on the bounce in all
competitions. The Tigers will also look to ignite their game play with more
invention and finally score a try after more than 500 minutes of
play without one. Steve Diamond’s Sharks thoroughly deserved their home win
against Saracens in Round 15 and they’ll head to Welford Road all guns blazing.
Both sides will be missing instrumental men due to International duty; Cole,
Croft and double Youngs in particular for the Tigers and of course Danny
Cipriani and Chris Cusiter for Sale. The loss of Sale’s first choice half backs
does shake things up and bit and it will be interesting to see how this one
pans out in the East Midlands as elsewhere they are fairly evenly matched. Spotlight on; the fitness of
Freddie Burns for the Leicester Tigers, if fit Freddie could be the difference between the two sides.
At Allianz Park Saracens
will aim to bounce back from their Round 15 disappointment however they’ll have
to do so without a number of their first choice individuals including Alex Goode. Mark
McCall’s men were uncharacteristically ill disciplined in Manchester and
they’ll need to be squeaky clean on home soil against Newcastle Falcons side
that are back on track. Newcastle thoroughly deserved the two points that they
gained against Wasps and they must build on that performance, for their set
piece will be tested against Saracens’ physical forwards. The Falcons must play
without fear; historically they haven’t fared well against the London outfit
having lost their last eleven encounters, however with their recent form, the game versus Exeter excluded, they’ve never been in a better position to compete hard against
McCall’s side. Spotlight on; the
leadership of Al Hargreaves to galvanise his side and ensure that they focus on
the task at hand to deliver on home soil.
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Last weekend the Exeter
Chiefs had a ball in the Capital as they compounded Harlequins’ woe with a
determined win on the road. Jack Nowell has been rewarded for his part in
proceedings with a call up for England however the rest of the side remains
ready to take on the challenge of Bath at home. At The Rec Bath couldn’t find a way to breakdown the steel of the travelling
Saints and this week will have focused delivering their own game plan with
precision and prowess and not being intimidated by the home side. Stu Hooper’s
leadership will be vital for the visitors and his positional face off with Dean
Mumm will be one of the many eye watching head to heads. Tempo will be the name
of the game at Sandy Park alongside physical, no holds barred rugby. Spotlight on; Henry Slade, will he deliver
another master class in rugby!?
The one and only game on Sunday is at the Ricoh Arena where Wasps will host Gloucester Rugby. Last weekend Wasps didn’t perform to their
capabilities and must do so at home to keep their Top 6 ambitions alive. At
home Gloucester’s win over London Welsh was costly in terms of injuries and
they’ll need their young men, Purdy, Braley, Evans and co to continue to
step up and relish the challenge of the large Ricoh Arena stage. I expect that Dai Young won’t change this side around too much,
instead he'll give them the opportunity to right their wrongs of seven days ago and
deliver a performance for their home fans. Spotlight
on; Gloucester’s back row, how will the balance and prowess change without
Kvesic against the experienced Wasps trio?
