Season's Greetings! After a November filled with international rugby and two rounds of European action Out On The Full's Premiership coverage is back. It may be the time of the year when many people slow down and take on a personal challenge to eat as much as possible but for our Premiership teams it's business as usual and a vital time in the season. For some this weekend is all about ensuring that they have a chance at finishing the calendar year in a promising position and for others it's all about cementing the good work that they've put in since Round 1.
Franklin’s Gardens starts the festive fixtures and the home side know that this result needs to go their way. Northampton’s last few weeks have been a whirlwind of stress and difficulties and some festive feel good, in terms of a W, would be a welcome relief. They have lost their last four matches in all competitions and Tom Wood has been open and honest about the feelings at the club. Needless to say on Friday night they need to be physically robust, on it energy wise and find sparks in attack. Sale Sharks’ run isn’t any better than their opponents’, in fact it’s worse, as they have slipped to six straight defeats. That said the introduction of Josh Charnley and Denny Solomona, and the fresh outlook that both have brought, has given the Sharks more of a spring in their step. Given the stakes this game could be one of those classic nervy bore fests but instead I hope that huge performances stem from the tension and as a result we get to see a good old tussle. Opta Match Fact: The last seven meetings between the two clubs in Premiership Rugby have all been fairly comfortable home victories, with the only losing bonus point in that sequence grabbed by the Saints at Salford last November. 
Christmas Eve will start with Saracens welcoming the Newcastle Falcons to Allianz Park and looking to extend their winning-run over the side from the North East. In terms of the home side's team news then Chris Ashton's name on their bench is a notable one as is the move for Maro Itoje from lock to the back row. Of course this is to ensure that both he and Will Skelton are in the mix and I'm sure Eddie Jones will take note of Maro's performance. Dean Richards has the luxury of welcoming back Vereniki Goneva for the trip down south and his side have won three of their last four in all competitions. So as we can see the Falcons are ticking along nicely but in all honesty Saracens are a different kettle of fish and I can't see them being pushed over any time soon. Saturday's match is a test of Newcastle's development so far this season, they have to prove that they can handle the best in the business and if they do will put in a good showing but I still expect Saracens to prevail. Opta Match Fact: Saracens have won their last fifteen fixtures against Newcastle in all tournaments since the Falcons 13-9 victory at Kingston Park in Premiership Rugby in February 2009
Next Dai Young's Wasps host Todd Blackadder's Bath at the Ricoh Arena and I have to say this one should be a belter of a match. Wasps have sold over 25,000 tickets and alongside those watching on BT Sport all should be in for a Christmas treat. Wasps welcome back Danny Cipriani into their backline and as a result Kurtley Beale will be given the space to roam, something I'm looking forward to watching. Bath also have added ammunition in their side as Semesa Rokoduguni and Matt Garvey both return. The duo have been outstanding in their respective parts of the field for Bath and will add enormously at the Ricoh Arena. Last season the two sides met four times but Bath were only able to take one victory, however we all know that this Bath side have their confidence back and with the expertise of their half-backs mean business again this season. Opta Match Fact: Wasps have won their last 17 matches at the Ricoh Arena since Saracens beat them there in Premiership Rugby on 27th December 2015.
Sandy Park is the final venue to open its doors on Christmas Eve as Rob Baxter's Exeter Chiefs host Leicester Tigers. The Chiefs have their eyes on a victory and as a result a spot in the Top 4 and that would be an impressive turnaround after their shaky start to the domestic season. While Leicester know that building on their gritty Champions Cup victory against Munster is vital in order for them to start finding a spot of consistency of form. Mike Williams is back for the Tigers, hopefully he stays fit for a prolonged period of time, and Freddie Burns shifts to full back as Owen Williams retains the fly-half jersey. Exeter's line-up welcomes back Gareth Steenson pull their string while Henry Slade and Ollie Devoto will be the centres trying to keep Manu Tuilagi nice and quiet. I expect that Sandy Park will be rocking and the hosts really need to set their stall out early, be clinical and never let the foot off their gas in order to take the Christmas spoils. Match Fact: Leicester have lost just one of their last eight encounters with the Chiefs in Premiership Rugby: 6-19 at Sandy Park in November 2015. 
Once we've all eaten far too much and opened a few Christmas presents Boxing Day provides an intriguing fixture with Bristol Rugby hosting Worcester Warriors at Ashton Gate. Bristol have scored 9 tries from their last two matches and their two bonus-point Challenge Cup victories couldn't have come at a better time. Reigniting that winning feeling and being able to take that confidence into this crucial home match could be invaluable. Jason Woodward has been going extremely well in their backs and a big plus for the hosts is that Tusi Pisi is fit to return to their starting XV. Worcester Warriors will need to arrive and calmly go about their business. They don't need to try too hard or over think the match instead just put their game on the park. Bristol's fans must make themselves heard and from there anything could happen... personally I'm looking forward to seeing how this one pans out. Match Fact: Bristol and Worcester have not clashed in Premiership Rugby since Bristol’s 37-18 victory at Memorial Stadium in March 2009. 
For the final game of the round we're heading to Twickenham Stadium as Harlequins host their annual Big Game. Once again this season's opponents are Gloucester Rugby and would it be too much to hope for another 39-39 thriller like last season? Harlequins are fielding a pack entirely made up of academy graduates while Gloucester's pack has a bit more of an international feel to it! Both sides have backs that can light up Twickenham Stadium and boast a number of internationals that know the ground well. Ben Morgan and Jack Clifford's duel at No 8 will be an interesting watch as will be Greig Laidlaw and Danny Care facing off at nine. In terms of their Big Game results then Harlequins have won three, drawn two and lost three and need to ensure they pick up another victory before they focus on their away form next calendar year. While Gloucester need to deliver the type of form that say them brush aside La Rochelle at Kingsholm and not dip below that intensity. Match Fact: Gloucester Rugby have not won away from home in Aviva Premiership Rugby since the trip to Sale Sharks in Round 3 but were unbeaten against Harlequins last season.
