I don’t know about you but I can’t believe that we are at the halfway stage of the Aviva Premiership season already? It seems like only yesterday that we were getting prepared for Round 1 and in a flash we are about to toast the start of 2017 and 11 rounds have been completed.
Of course the second-half of the season will deliver the race for the Premiership playoffs, a RBS 6 Nations Championship that will impact on clubs' form, and potentially results, and of course a whole truck load of discussions about a potential Lions squad.
Just because the New Year celebrations are arriving the Premiership doesn’t rest up. While the majority of the UK will be seeing in 2017 with a few beverages and a verse or two of Auld Lang Syne our Premiership teams will be focused on securing critical table points and victories.
In Round 11 Dai Young’s Wasps showcased the full extent of their attacking prowess and in chilly Newcastle I expect them to do the same. They’ve scored 12 more tries that any other side in the competition and despite rotating in their midfield have the squad depth to continue that trend. Newcastle are going about their business efficiently and have won two of their last three matches in the competition. Captain Mark Wilson has made more tackles than any other player in the competition (136) and his industry and work rate will be vital to ensure that the Falcons deliver defensively. Newcastle need to stem the Wasps tide and then ensure that they finish their opportunities. Without question Wasps are in form right now but as we've seen before a Friday night at Kingston Park can be challenging for even the top teams. Match Fact: Wasps have won only once on the road in any competition since September, 26-12 at Worcester in Round 10 but they are unbeaten in their last eight fixtures with the Falcons.
The New Year’s Eve Premiership action focuses on The Recreation Ground as Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs do battle. Personally I’m looking forward to this fixture as both sides have an ambition to play positive rugby and combine that with hard working and physical forwards. After Exeter’s positive bonus-point victory over Leicester Rob Baxter has the luxury of picking a largely unchanged side however Henry Salde’s neck/shoulder injury is a concern. For Bath they shift slightly in the pack with Tom Dunn starting at hooker, Matt Garvey shifting into the second row and Tom Ellis and Zach Mercer coming into the back row. Without a doubt Anthony Watson will get a huge cheer if he heads onto the field today after his unfortunate injury at England’s training camp and with the RBS 6 Nations fast approaching both he and Jack Nowell will want to press their case in front of a watching Eddie Jones. Match Fact: Bath are attempting to achieve a first Premiership Rugby double over the Chiefs since season 2013/14 whilst Exeter’s only previous victory at Bath in any tournament is 22-19 in the semi-final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup in March 2014. 
With four Premiership matches on New Year’s Day 2017 will be starting in the right way. The first to kick off will be at the AJ Bell Stadium as Sale Sharks host Bristol Rugby. In my book this is an intriguing clash as Bristol will be greatly boosted by their victory over Worcester while Sale looked flat against Northampton Saints. Steve Diamond has shifted Sam James to ten and his partnership with James Mitchell has to be an assertive one and one that brings into the game the firepower of Josh Charnley and Denny Solomona. For Bristol their challenge is to prove that Round 11 wasn’t a one off and to show the competition that they really do mean business. The visitors need to keep their processes and structures and build upon on the impressive game management that they showed against Worcester. Match Fact: Sale Sharks have lost their last seven matches in all tournaments however Bristol have not won successive matches in the Premiership since March 2008 
In one of three 3pm kick offs Welford Road is set to welcome 24,000 plus fans as Leicester Tigers host Saracens. Richard Cockerill’s side made a slow start against Exeter at Sandy Park and that ultimately that cost them a chance at getting back on level terms. Needless to say that cannot happen again in Round 12 because Saracens will be their usual ruthless selves. The onus also is on Leicester’s attack to fire as their visitors have conceded only 9 ties in the first half of the season, 8 better than the next best club. With Tom Youngs, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole arriving back into the mix the hosts have experience and in particular Ben will want to remind us all of the form he showed during the Autumn internationals. Leicester have a strong record at Welford Road but this Saracens we’re talking about, matches between the two always contain a little extra firepower and it should be a physical old encounter to start the new year. Match Fact: The Tigers only defeat at Welford Road in their last 14 matches in all tournaments was to Wasps in round 2 of Premiership Rugby. 
The final game of the Premiership weekend will be at Sixways where Worcester Warriors are hosting Harlequins. Carl Hogg’s side have to show greater invention than they did against Bristol in order to ensure that Harlequins’ difficult run on the road continues. John Kingston’s side haven’t won away from home yet but should be boosted by their recent outing at Twickenham Stadium. Carl Hogg makes five changes and needs to see this side really take charge of the game and not look a little lost. As you’d expect the visitors are largely unchanged because they’re well aware that they need to notch up as many points as possible before they lose all of their international players again. Match Fact: Harlequins have won fourteen of their last fifteen encounters with the Warriors in Premiership Rugby, the exception being a 15-21 reversal at The Stoop in round 17 last season.
Full Round Schedule
Fri 30th Dec - Newcastle Falcons 30-34 Wasps
Sat 31st Dec - Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs (3pm) Live on BT Sport
Sun 1st Jan - Sale Sharks v Bristol Rugby (2.30pm)
Sun 1st Jan - Leicester Tigers v Saracens (3pm) Live on BT Sport
Sun 1st Jan - Worcester Warriors v Harlequins (3pm)
Sun 1st Jan - Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints (3pm)
