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. 