Premiership Round 5 Preview

Well hello Round 5! Some may think that I’m being a little bit corny or cliche when I say that time flies when you’re having fun, but it genuinely does. Not only are the Premiership rounds flashing by in the blink of an eye, we’ve already marked the start of a new European season with the EPCR competition launch and Eddie Jones has announced an EPS squad and an England training squad. For now let's park England and instead focus solely on this weekend's Premiership action because there are some huge match ups coming up. 

Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs

Round 5 starts with two sets of Friday night lights and to start with let’s take a look at Northampton Saints hosting Exeter Chiefs. On paper Saints’ opening few rounds don’t look great - played four  and won one. But, if you analyse it on a performance basis then there’s some strong output in there and certainly more positives to take than there were this time last season. When reviewing the team news for the match the key thing that will stand out to everyone is the return of Calum Clark. The back-rower has been extremely unfortunate with injuries and will be making his first appearance for Saints since May 2015. In short it will be like having a whole new signing at the club and a good one at that. Exeter Chiefs also welcome back a key individual as Jack Nowell comes onto their bench. The Chiefs have plenty of depth out wide but it’s great to see the England winger ready to rumble and I hope he had a good stint in the second forty. Exeter have found their feet but this will be a test of their form and Saints know that they need to deliver on home soil and to do that they must correct the handling errors that plagued them last time out. Two to watch: Harry Mallinder and Henry Slade, both will be vital to their side’s endeavour and invention. 

Bristol Rugby v Saracens

The only way to describe Bristol Rugby’s opening fixture list is cruel. They’ve faced Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Wasps and Exeter Chiefs and now they have to suit up and confront the reigning European and Premiership champions. Ouch! The positive is that we saw a marked improvement from Bristol in Round 4 in terms of their physicality but in that regard Saracens’ intensity is a different ball game. Worryingly Owen Farrell’s absence continues and he’s joined by Alex Goode on the sidelines after the full back  picked up a “slight knee injury” against Harlequins. The positive is that George Kruis returns and even without a full first choice starting XV Saracens will have too much to handle. The hope is that Bristol raise their level again and put up a strong fight because if they don’t it will get ugly. Two to watch: Saracens’ Ben Spencer could excel if Bristol give him an inch of space and Tusi Pisi must be on form to steer them around the pitch and kick valuable points if given the chance. 

Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers

Leicester head into this match after delivering their ‘first proper Leicester performance’ of the season and the question is will they be able to replicate that away from home? Sale showed some great things in attack and some clangers in defence so they’ll be looking to even out their output on home turf. Tom Brady will make his Leicester Tigers debut against his former club and George McGuigan returns into Tigers’ starting line up. For the hosts Mike Phillips is given the starting birth due to Peter Stringer’s injury and it’s likely that he’ll need to go for the full eighty against experienced Leicester half-backs.Sale achieved a Premiership double over Leicester last season for the first time since 2007-08 but will need to raise their levels significant if they’re to do so again this time out. Two to watch: Number of eyes will be on Mike Williams after his inclusion in Eddie Jones’ squad and plenty of responsibility falls on the shoulders of Sale’s captain Josh Beaumont. 

Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby

I firmly believe that this derby fixture is going to be a cracker and, if it's possible, even more intense than usual. Gloucester are coming into it off the back of a loss and a terribly inconsistent start to the season while Bath were shown up at Welford Road and have more injuries than you can shake a stick at. David Humphreys brings back into his starting XV Greig Laidlaw, James Hook and Billy Twelvetrees and their focus this week has been on covering ‘A Zone opportunities' and ‘treasuring the ball a bit more’. Bath are handing Elliot Stooke his first Premiership start and he’ll partner Charlie Ewels in the second row while Aled Brew comes into the centres with Matt Banahan as Jonathan Joseph isn’t yet fully fit after his dead leg. Bath have won on their last four visits to Kingsholm in major competitions but will need to find more creativity off George Ford if they’re to succeed because the England fly-half cannot do it all alone. Discipline will be a key factor for both sides because passion is all well and good but boiling over could be hugely costly in terms of the final result. Two to watch: James Hook at full-back will he enjoy the space and time on the it provides? Aled Brew in Bath’s centres will be fairly unfamiliar to the Cherry and Whites, what damage can he do?

Wasps v Harlequins

Dai Young said that his side ‘rode their luck’ against Northampton and he’s right. Conversely Harlequins were in the driving seat against Saracens and will be arriving on a high. The task for Wasps will be to shut down those positive feelings early on and work from there. Dai Young has chosen to rotate his side slightly and that has just showcased the depth of talent that he has at his disposal for example with Ashley Johnson and Dan Robson starting instead of Tommy Taylor and Joe Simpson. Harlequins welcome back Marland Yarde into their starting XV and Karl Dickson takes the scrum half jersey after Danny Care’s rib injury last weekend. If Harlequins replicate their level of physical intensity and precision then they’ll run Wasps close but personally I think that the home side have all of the momentum, and tools, to deliver another solid victory. Two to watch: I expect that Danny Cipriani will want to prove a point after he was left out of Friday’s EPS squad and I’d like to see Mike Brown show some magic for the visitors. 

Worcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle Falcons head to Sixways with the same starting XV as the one that kicked off their victory against Gloucester Rugby. It’s a luxurious position for Dean Richards to be in and one that could deliver the goods again. Worcester are also settled with the only amendment to their starting XV being to welcome back Tom Heathcote. The motivation for both sides will be strong, the hosts will be desperate to go one better than another home draw and the visitors are aiming to win successive matches on the road for the first time since the 2011-12 season. We know that Worcester can score points but this weekend it will be about combining that attacking endeavour with defensive solidity. For the Newcastle Falcons they need to try to exploit their hosts’ defensive frailties and turn up with confidence on the road. This match has the ingredients to be another high scoring match and I’m intrigued to watch it pan out. Two to watch: Perry Humphreys and Sinoti Sinoti’s duel out wide will be fascinating. 

Premiership Rugby Round 4 Review - The One With All The Drama

Well Round 4 delivered didn’t it!!? From Friday night to Sunday afternoon we were spoiled by shock results, big individual performances and more. If it this was a Friends episode then it would definitely have the title 'The One With All The Drama'. So the question now is what do you class as the biggest head turner of the weekend? Sale Sharks’ comeback at Sixways, Newcastle Falcons’ victory at Kingsholm or Harlequins defeat of the reigning champions? I’ll leave that you to ponder of that one while we dive into a review of the weekend's action. 

Bristol Rugby 17 - 41 Exeter Chiefs

If you cast your eye over the scoreboard alone and haven't seen the match then it looks to have been another bleak and dark evening for Bristol Rugby. But, if fact that are a number of positives that the side should take out of Friday night. Andy Robinson’s men very easily could have been pummelled and yet their pack really stood up and that greater physicality laid the platform for endeavour. Bristol’s second try was the pick on the night, they went from deep and the acceleration and hands shown from Ryan Edwards and Jordan Williams were top notch. Alas Exeter were too streetwise and ultimately had far too many tools at their disposal. Once again the combination of Henry Slade and Gareth Steenson is blooming as they pulled the strings with ease and out wide Olly Woodburn continues to thrive for the Chiefs. Exeter weren’t quite as ruthless as they would have liked to have been but they travelled back home with all five points and in the end that’s all that counts. Key Men: Olly Woodburn really enjoyed himself out wide and Alec Hepburn was a man on a mission.  

Northampton 15 - 20 Wasps

We always knew that the match at Franklin’s Gardens had all of the elements to be a cracker and boy did it deliver. The Saints started with a bang but somehow managed to head into the break down on the scoreboard. Wasps were on the back foot for much of the opening forty but inaccuracies plagued their hosts (that was to be the story of the match). We’ve seen Wasps do the flashy stuff and Saturday was all about their grit and heart with a gorgeous try thrown in for good measure. That try was made by Danny Cipriani's invention and his chip found two of Wasps standout early season performers; Guy Thompson and Jimmy Gopperth. The duo continued to set the tone for Wasps in their respective positions and as a whole the visitors were determined. Saints looked promising, but ultimately were their own worst enemies. George North had one of his best games for the club for a long time and, like Henry Slade, Harry Mallinder looks so much more comfortable in the centres than he does at fly-half. Ultimately Saints’ video session will make for tricky viewing, due to the amount of chances they squandered, while Wasps march confidently on. Key Men: Jimmy Gopperth nudges it for me, he’s Wasps’ heart and soul in attack and it’s sublime to watch. 

Worcester Warriors 34-34 Sale Sharks

Nine tries and 68 points it’s fair to say that the crowd at Sixways got value for money on Saturday afternoon! It was the ultimate roller-coaster of a match as Sale raced into a 17-5 lead before trailing 19-17 at half-time. Then in the second half Worcester charged ahead again to 31-17 before Sale clambered back to salvage the draw. Worcester again showcased the fruits of their back line and I remain extremely impressed by Jamie Shillcock and Perry Humprehys, the former’s solo effort on 52 minutes was my pick of the tries. But Worcester’s defence still proved to be a little too light to take the result and that must change. That said three points will be valuable and away from home Sale will happily take their three too given the ups and downs of the match. Key Men: Worcester’s back three has plenty about them to cause team’s issues. Now they need to collectively shut down opponents to hold onto the valuable four points.

Harlequins 17-10 Saracens

Ahead of Harlequins running out at the Twickenham Stoop their fans could have been forgiven for being a touch nervous. The champions were arriving in town and it’s fair to say that Harlequins’ start to the season hadn’t exactly been a walk in the park. Yet John Kingston’s men controlled the game and overall Saracens looked a touch off colour. The hosts were gutsy in defence and held Mark McCall’s side out for key periods just before half-time and in the second forty. If Alex Lozowski’s two second-half penalties had gone over then it would have been an even greater challenge for Harlequins to finish the game off (they were under the cosh as it was) but on the day they held firm. The challenge now will be for Quins to maintain this level and ensure that their squad players step up every week and not just on occasion because that will make a huge difference. For Saracens they’ll wish to park this one as a bit of a bad day at the office and leave it at that. Key Men: Chris Robshaw delivered the type of work rate that few can match and made some vital turnovers when Saracens had the line in sight. 

Gloucester 13 - 18 Newcastle Falcons

It’s fair to say that Newcastle’s journey back from Kingsholm will have been a good one after they recorded only their third victory at the ground and their first since 2012. Dean Richards’ side finally broke their long standing travel sickness, they hadn’t won away from Kingston Park since November 2014, and did so through a determined and hard working performance. As a collective the Falcons showed true Northern grit and took their opportunities when they arose. Conversely Gloucester missed theirs and found the pressure of trying to perform in front of a home crowd too much. Elements were solid but too many were not shaky and those were the words echoed by David Humphreys’ after the watch. Gloucester have local rivals Bath rolling into town next and it will be another week of contemplation and trying to find their consistent mojo while Falcons will take plenty of confidence on the road to Sixways. Key Men: Will Welch delivered a captain’s outing to ensure Falcons stayed calm in the face of victory and led with his industry across the park. 

Leicester Tigers 34-14 Bath Rugby

Leicester Tigers' early form had been indifferent yet in Round 4 it clicked and on home soil they showed their ‘first real Leicester performance’ according to Richard Cockerill. The holey defence that had been a part of the opening three rounds wasn't anywhere to be seen and instead they had the answers to Bath's questions. Both sides had late changes, Bath's due to injury, and while presence of Owen Williams at ten made a huge positive difference for the home side Bath missed Jonathan Joseph's creativity.  The visitors were outmuscled and lacked the true spark that they required to question their hosts. Although Leicester had pushed themselves into a comfortable 27-7 lead they did make their own lives slightly hard work in the second half but Bath weren't pristine in their skill execution,, or discipline and as a result couldn't deliver any real challenge back. Key Men: One from the forwards and one from the backs for the Leicester Tigers. Peter Betham delighted us with his footwork and pace and Mike Williams was bruising and will have given Eddie Jones plenty to ponder on. 

Premiership Round 4 Preview

Can you believe that we’re already at Round 4? It seems like yesterday that the season was starting and we were all gearing up for our first weekend of a new Premiership season. 

After three rounds you’d expect every side to be back into some form of groove but that’s not quite the case and there are still a number that need a positive performance in Round 4 to kick-start their seasons. 

Personally I’m hopeful for a spot of good weather so that we can continue to see the type of running rugby that we all enjoy and not have to move into the challenging conditions just yet!

Bristol v Exeter Chiefs

The weekend starts at Ashton Gate and boy do I hope that Bristol are able to pull something out of the bag in terms of delivering a performance level that isn’t absolutely walked all over on by Exeter. The Chiefs are firm favourites, that’s obvious, but I’d like the hosts to side to stand up to them. Andy Robinson has changed six in his pack, clearly with the objective of boosting their physicality and that will be vital alongside rock solid defence. Rob Baxter has placed a big emphasis on ensuring that his side’s mental preparation is on point because there could be a tendency to underestimate their opponents given last weekend's result between Bristol and Wasps. He's fired the warning to his players so in theory that shouldn't be a problem. The last time that the two met was actually in the  2009-10 Championship playoffs and the visitors will be aiming to show the significant strides that they've made since that point. Two to watch: Jack Lam and Julian Salvi having a good old breakdown battle.

Gloucester v Newcastle Falcons

Kingsholm will welcome Premiership Rugby back after their side finally found a final quarter in Round 3. At the AJ Bell Stadium Cherry and Whites showed the type of composure that needs to be a constant and the challenge will be to repeat that at home, because we all know that consistency isn't always their strong point. From a Falcons’ point of view they’ll have been bitterly disappointed not to have taken the result against Leicester but must park that swiftly. The one thing that concerns me with Dean Richards’ side is that they haven't won away from home in the Premiership since October 2014. ‘Travel sickness’ cannot be a part of any Premiership campaign, if they want to be successful, and they need to rectify that asap.  Two to watch: Large responsibility on Willi Heinz at scrum-half to fill Greig Laidlaw's shoes from the offset and I'd like to see a spot of stardust from Dom Waldouck in Falcons' midfield. 

Harlequins v Saracens

It’s Round 3 and yet this is the first time that Harlequins will be running out at The Stoop and boy will they be looking forward to home comforts. Harlequins haven’t looked like a side filled with purpose yet but they will take heed from the fact that Saracens are missing a fair few for this encounter including Chris Ashton, Duncan Taylor, Owen Farrell, Sean Maitland, George Kruis and Schalk Burger. That said  we all know that Saracens' squad is a strong one and has the power to do a job regardless. Harlequins welcome back Jamie Roberts into their midfield but are still missing Nick Evans and will be with Jack Clifford for the next 10 weeks (ankle injury). This fixture last season was the last match that Maro Itoje lost for Saracens and it was one of the only two matches that Saracens lost on the road but I personally don't see that happening again. I'm predicting something similar to last weekend in which Harlequins give Saracens something to think about but the reigning Champions prevail regardless. Two to watch: The direct comparison of Alex Goode and Mike Brown - fascinating for all of us and maybe even Eddie Jones too!

Northampton Saints v Wasps

Franklin’s Gardens is set for a treat this weekend when Wasps rumble into town and aim to build on their fine form. Matches between these two always are always physical and feisty affairs and I can’t wait to see them duel again. Northampton know that they were the ones that handed Saracens a foothold back into their Round 3 match so will be looking to deliver for the full eighty. They’ll need to do so again without Dylan Hartley who remains out of the match day 23 and it’s in this type of game that his leadership would have been vital in their pack. Wasps' game last weekend should have acted almost like a training exercise in preparation for this true test and they’re welcoming back Sam Jones, Guy Thompson and Nathan Hughes into their starting back row - a potent trio. Looking at the stats, Wasps won both encounters with Northampton in Aviva Premiership Rugby last season but have not achieved successive victories at Franklin’s Gardens since 2005. Two to watch: Tommy Taylor and Mikey Haywood going head-to-head at the set piece and delivering dynamism around the park.

Worcester Warriors v Sale Sharks

At Sixways Carl Hogg will be looking for his side to put together all of the different elements that we’ve seen this season - the attacking intent and output that they showed against Bath in Round 3 (first half) and the type of physical defence that they showed us all at Twickenham Stadium in the opening forty of the season. If they do that then they will give their fans plenty to shout about and they’re boosted by the return of Cooper Vuna. Sale make four changes to their line-up and the big news is that AJ MacGinty is available to start at fly-half. The new ten has had limited time to showcase his worth in the Premiership so I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do. Peter Stringer starts alongside AJ in the half-backs and his presence, and outstanding quick delivery, should help the fly half no end. Back in Round 13 last year Worcester beat Sale 31-23 but they haven't achieved back-to-back successes against Sale since 2008.  Two to watch: I'm going to keep my eye on the fly-halves as both AJ MacGinty and Ryan Lamb have points to prove. 

Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby

The one and only Sunday match will be at Welford Road and it should be another belter. Interestingly the last five fixtures between the two have been won by the home side on the day but right now Bath may just be edging it in terms of confidence. Todd Blackadder’s side are three from three and in good spirits while Leicester’s start has been a little sticky. Jonathan Joseph returns for the visitors and forms a combative centre partnership with Matt Banahan and they’ll face off against the inventive duo of Owen Williams and Peter Betham. Elsewhere for Bath George Ford and Kahn Fotuali'i continue their blossoming partnership in the half-backs and both should give Tigers plenty to think about. Richard Cockerill has gone for experience in his front row bringing back Marcos Ayerza next to Tom Youngs and Dan Cole and they could gain real dominance at the set piece if all are firing.  Bath last won at Welford Road in Premiership Rugby back in November 2003 so it's a tough task on their hands even if Leicester looked shaky last week. Two to watch: I'm definitely interested to see the work of the two packs collectively and the duel out wide between Semesa Rokoduguni and JP Pietersen.

Premiership Round 3 Review - Close calls, walks in the park and more

So, Round 3 was fairly eventful wasn’t it!? It delivered us a little bit of everything from runaway victories to last minute nail-biters. Of course the disciplinary news to come out of Saracens’ match at Allianz Park regarding Chris Ashton has marred what was an enthralling weekend. Until we know that outcome of that I’m going to park it and instead focus on the rest of the action that happened during the course of Round 3. 

Sale Sharks 13-26 Gloucester Rugby

We stared the weekend at the AJ Bell Stadium and prepared ourselves for another Friday night thriller. Instead it didn’t house quite as much drama as the previous two Fridays, something that will have helped Gloucester fans’ blood pressures. Instead we finally saw the Cherry and Whites keep their heads and manage a match well in the final quarter. The work of Billy Burns and Greig Laidlaw in particular to steered the side through at the AJ Bell and it bodes well for coming matches. Conversely Steve Diamond was unhappy with his side giving away ‘soft penalties’ and believes that they were ‘second best by a country mile’. Of course the hosts’ efforts were thwarted by the loss of Dan Mugford in the second half which forced Mike Phillips into a very unfamiliar role. Sale need to park the match asap and ensure they sharpen slightly ahead of a trip to Sixways while Gloucester must use the match as a platform and blueprint to work from. 

Key Man: Greig Laidlaw - not only for his goal kicking but for the influence that he has on the field in terms of leadership and game management. When he’s at his best Gloucester are a much more confident side. 

Bath Rugby 37-22 Worcester Warriors

At The Recreation Ground Bath’s winning start to the new season continued albeit after a strong opening half from Carl Hogg’s Worcester Warriors. In the first forty minutes Worcester showed us what they can do with ball in hand and looked the more confident of the two sides. However the hosts rectified their lack of real intent and belief after half-time and quickly turned the match on its head. As Bath grew in confidence so did the noise around the ground and the loudest cheer of the day was reserved for Leroy Houston who scored their bonus point try. Worcester will take plenty of positives away from their opening forty but must now endeavour to put all parts of their game together for a the full eighty. For Bath they passed their first real test of the season but will know that at Welford Road they cannot only get going after half-time.

Key Men: Having flown in this week from Australia Leroy Houston could have been forgiven for feeling little jaded but instead he looked like he’d never been away. Also two notable mentions for Worcester’s debutant Jamie Shillcock and winger Perry Humphreys, both of whom turned heads. 

Exeter Chiefs 36-25 Harlequins

On Saturday afternoon Sandy Park was a content place again as Exeter finally got their season off the mark however Tomas Francais’ red card was the one black mark on their report card. Francais’ red was the right decision, World Rugby have made it very clear that they’re tightening up on feet around the ruck and contact with players’ heads, and his DOR will have been disappointed by the prop’s careless actions. Putting that aside Exeter showed plenty of firepower and reminded us how good they can be when they are on the front foot and enjoying their rugby. Lachie Turner had a superb afternoon’s work and Henry Slade looked more comfortable in the centres with Gareth Steenson at fly-half to work with. Harlequins are still not firing as strongly as they should be, yes their midfield was shorn of experience, but as a collective they should have done better in the opening half. We saw some of their players step up in the second but it’s just not clicked yet for John Kingston’s side this Premiership season and that will be a concern. 

Key Men: As mention I was impressed by Lachie Turner's outing at full back and am looking forward to seeing more of him as the competition progresses and in Europe. 

Saracens 27-12 Northampton Saints

It was an intense and bruising encounter at Allianz Park - a battle of wills and one that, eventually, Saracens won. That said for 55 minutes Northampton had their hosts rattled, they got into Saracens' heads but then their bubble burst with Alex Waller’s yellow card. It was the turning point of the match and it gave Saracens the opportunity to readdress the balance of power that had previously been against them. As you'd expect with the calabre of players on the field there were notable performances on both sides. First, the big men in the back rows of Schalk Burger, Billy Vunipola, Tom Wood and Louis Picamoles were all particularly rumbustious and I also thought that Courtney Lawes also put in a shift to turn heads. Ultimately the reigning champs found a way to win but Saints proved, for 55 minutes at least, that Saracens could be beatable. 

Key Men: The aforementioned back rowers plus the continued cool performances of Alex Lozowski, let’s remember how little Premiership game time he’s had prior to this season. 

Wasps 70-22 Bristol Rugby

If you have anything other than Wasps Rugby in your hearts then Sunday’s match against Bristol Rugby did make for slightly uncomfortable viewing as Dai Young’s side absolutely annihilated Bristol. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the rugby played by Wasps, I do, but it was the stark contrast between the two that made it difficult to watch. Wasps tries, all ten of them, were well taken and it’s their squad depth that should worry the rest of the Premiership (even Saracens). Andy Robinson was matter of fact after the match saying that his side need to ‘stick together’ and focus on closing the gulf between them and the top Premiership sides. He’s not making excuses or feeling sorry for his side but the question is can they make those improvements while being taught harsh Premiership lessons at the weekend? Exeter Chiefs are next and you can be sure that the Chiefs won’t hold back. On the other hand Wasps march on, looking really strong and I’m fascinated to see their performance against Saints at Franklin’s Gardens because I think that will be a real contest. 

Key Men: Take your pick from those in black and gold but for me Elliot Daly caught the eye. 

Newcastle Falcons 13-14 Leicester Tigers

The final match of the weekend was at Kingston Park where Richard Cockerill’s Leicester Tigers just scraped through to take full points. After Falcons’ thrashing at The Rec I didn’t give them too much of a look in, even at home, and I was pleased to be proved wrong. Dean Richards’ side were combative and exposed Leicester's slightly disjointed output at this moment in time however they couldn’t quite finish it off. Joel Hodgson will have nightmares about that drop goal for months to come, it was a sitter, but the result aside Falcons should be the happier of the two. As you’d expect Vereniki Goneva really put himself about against his old club and Dean Richards’ side must ensure that they take that sort of output on the road as well as delivering it at home. They’ll be a few more discussions this week at Leicester’s training ground before they head home because they need to click to ease the pressure currently weighing heavily on their own shoulders. 

Key Men: Mike Fitzgerald was at the heart of a Leicester pack that really helped to turn around a difficult opening half alongside key influences from Ellis Genge. Elsewhere Simon Hammersley and Vereniki Goneva were sparky and filled with intent in attack for Falcons. 

Premiership Round 3 Preview - Three times a charm

Welcome along to Round 3! 

Already a week has flown by and the weekend is upon us. Once again we've six more Aviva Premiership matches to enjoy as well as the Rugby Championship this weekend. If you've got a green card to watch rugby all weekend then take a look at the schedule for Saturday because you can go from 8am in the morning through until about 10pm at night with the Rugby Championship, Pro12, Top 14 and Premiership. That's certainly my kind of Saturday!

This weekend I won’t actually be attending any live matches as I’m working in Sky's London office all weekend so if you’re heading out and about then do share a few updates, thoughts and pictures with me on social media. 

We’ve plenty of rugby to preview so I’m not going to continue on with an even longer introduction, instead let’s just dive straight into the first match of the round at the AJ Bell Stadium. 

Sale Sharks Rugby v Gloucecster Rugby

For the third time in succession Gloucester Rugby will kick-start the Aviva Premiership weekend and the question is will it be another drama fest? Of course Gloucester were the only side to beat Sale at the AJ Bell Stadium last season so revenge will definitely be on the cards for the hosts. Sale have the more settled side, making just one change as Cameron Neild replaces the injured TJ Ioane while Gloucester Rugby have changed three. Sale have the advantage of going into the game off a steadier outing and of course a victory while Gloucester still look fairly unsettled. Given the two packs on show we should see plenty of hard ball carrying and a great breakdown tussle. Gloucester have to take their chances, however they present themselves, and Sale simply need to keep their calm and thrive off home advantage. Two to watch: The focus remains on Dan Mugford at fly-half and also I'm intrigued to see how the Mark Atkinson and Matt Scott centre partnership works.

Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors

Last weekend Bath Rugby started their home season in superb fashion with an eight try thrashing of Dean Richards' Newcastle Falcons and Worcester played their part in a dramatic Friday night fixture. The Warriors have lost on all eleven previous visits to The Recreation Ground so this week's match is a tough ask. Once again the weather looks conducive to positive rugby (no rain is forecast as yet) and as a result I'd like to see both sides attack with purpose. Perry Humphreys proved his worth from the bench last Friday and thoroughly deserves his start and it's a big stage for Premiership debutant Jamie Shillcock to arrive onto. Bath's half-back partnership should excel again and they have a number of individuals returning from injuries including Dan Bowden in the centres and Henry Thomas in their front row. Leroy Houston's presence will animate the crowd even more than usual and Worcester will need combat them as well as their opponents if they're to turn around history and prevail. Personally I can't see it happening and expect the hosts to finish the afternoon three from three. Two to watch: Anthony Watson's first Premiership outing on the wing will be of interest and Carl Kirwan's work in Worcester's back row. 

Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins

Exeter Chiefs’ 2016-17 season hasn’t started too smoothly and equally Harlequin have looked decidely off colour. Needless to say both sides really need a solid victory under their belts in order to get them up and running. Harlequins welcome back Mike Brown after his illness but have lost Jamie Roberts and Nick Evans to injuries. So far we haven't seen John Kingston's side really gel together and away from home they need all elements of ther game to click at once. Exeter must make Harlequins question themselves early and must use the experience of Gareth Steenson at fly-half to push the game into the right areas of the park. The Chiefs have not lost successive matches at Sandy Park since September 2014 and to prevent that happening they will need to rise above last weekend's dismantling and find their edge. Two to watch: Spot the eights! Thomas Waldrom and Jack Clifford have very different styles but both need to make a big impact for their respective sides. 

Saracens v Northampton Saints

Saracens hosting Northampton Saints is always a feisty fixture and one that has a touch of extra bite to it. Right now the reigning champions are imperious and if Saints are to get close to them then we'll need to see a lot more than we have done. Northampton's opening-half against Bristol was strong but their opponents this week are of a different class and mistakes will be punished. For Saracens it's a case of taking another opportunity to remind us all that they're Europe's leaders. It's Saracens work rate and intensity that impresses me the most and with so many of their key protagonists from last week out on the park again it should simply be a case of more of the same. Northampton will miss Dylan Hartley's presence and the onus will be on Mikey Haywood to put in an extended shift. Saints have the best winning record of any side at Allianz Park but they'll need to be super human for 80 minutes to topple the reigning champs. Two to watch: Time to keep an eye on Brad Barritt and Luther Burrell in the 12 jerseys. 

Wasps v Bristol Rugby

Wasps made a big statement of intent last weekend with their victory at Welford Road. Yes, we’re only two rounds in but they should take oodles of confidence out of their performance and still have a number of other names to come into the mix. By their own admission Bristol Rugby were ‘schooled’ for forty minutes and they simply cannot afford for that to happen again at the Ricoh Arena. In pre-season Bristol ran Wasps close but since the home side have stepped up a gear. Bristol are handing competitive debuts to three players and as a collective they need all 23 need to be switched on instantly and not feel overwhelmed. Bristol have to compete from the get go and match Wasps' physicality because we all know what will happen if they don't. Two to watch: The two good friends and former team mates Tom Varndell and Christian Wade meeting out wide. 

Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers

At The Recreation Ground Dean Richards’ side were totally outclassed and they have to have spent the week understanding why and rectifying those reasons if they’re to put their hand up on home soil. The Tigers’ week will have been equally deep and meaningful because the start to the season won’t have been acceptable to their Director of Rugby. Interestingly Leicester haven't won back-to-back away games in the Premiership since March-15 and they won't be taking Falcons likely, in spite of Falcons' horror show last weekend. There will be plenty of pressure flying around Kingston Park and it will be up to the experienced men on both sides to steer their sides through the 80 minutes. Two to watch: Let's break the norm and say both sides... Leicester want to show they're clinical and Falcons must prove last weekend was only a big blip on their radar.