So here we are with just six rounds of the regular Premiership season to go… yes six! I know that I say it every year but I can’t believe how quickly time is flying by. With the presence of the RBS 6 Nations and there being just one of me I’ve focused on England’s progression for the last few rounds but with a fallow week it’s time to turn Out On The Full’s focus back to the domestic competition.
Table wise it’s intriguing with just seven points separating the teams from second to fifth, then there’s five points between fifth and ninth. Of course when it comes to the latter end of the season the focus sharpens on the foot of the table and Bristol’s victory over Bath (inspired by big Gav) means that they’re two points off Worcester and of course they will meet each other at Sixways on Sunday.
Round 17 starts at Welford Road and I’m really looking forward to seeing this one pan out - I will be a little late watching due to working on the Las Vegas Sevens at the time but will enjoy it in full. Leicester’s revival of late has been impressive and with three Premiership wins on the bounce confidence should be building. Confidence is exactly what they’ll need against the Exeter Chiefs because Rob Baxter’s side are unbeaten in their last nine Premiership matches… nine! Personally I’m looking forward to seeing the game management of both Owen Williams and Henry Slade in the 10 jerseys while Olly Woodburn’s clash with JP Pietersen out wide will also be an interesting watch. Without question most people’s heads say Leicester but Exeter have the ability to ruffle feathers and I hope that the weather plays ball for a big start to the round. Match Fact: The last four Premiership Rugby fixtures between the two clubs have all been won by the home side.
Elsewhere on Friday night the AJ Bell Stadium will open its doors as Steve Diamond’s Sale Sharks host Northampton Saints. The real blow for Sale is the injury to Will Addison that rules him out for the rest of the season - he’s been at the heart of their upswing and it's such a shame he's now out. Interestingly this is Northampton’s third away trip in four Aviva Premiership weekends and their two victories in their last seven Premiership away games were won by just a single point. In my view Sale always bring that little bit extra at home and by my reckoning this could be a niggly old game. Match Fact: Northampton’s last two victories at AJ Bell Stadium were back in November 2012 (Premiership Rugby) and April 2014 (European Challenge Cup).
Saturday’s Premiership rugby will start at The Recreation Ground where Bath host Wasps. Both sides have been hit with injuries but the depth in Wasps’ squad is such that their back line still boats a plethora of highly experienced individuals while Bath must put their faith in young Adam Hastings at fly-half. He’s a talented player but will be thrown in at the deep end and it will be up to his half-back partner - Chris Cook - to use his experience to full effect. Anthony Watson’s return is great to see and in the forwards both packs contain big old units that love to carry and carry with purpose. History shows that matches between these two are always enthralling encounters and I hope that this one follows suit. Match Fact: Wasps have won on their last two visits to The Rec in all competitions, but have never won three in a row at the venue in the professional era.
A short distance down the road Gloucester Rugby will welcome Harlequins to Kingsholm. The home side are boosted by the return of Billy Burns after that worrying knock that he sustained against Saracens. He’ll partner Willi Heinz and is the only change to a back line that’s really been firing of late. Elsewhere Yann Thomas, John Afoa and Mariano Galarza all come into the pack. Like Bath Harlequins have lost their experienced 10 to injury so Tim Swiel will take the reins while Tim Visser and Kyle Sinckler both return from international duty. With the race for sixth position and automatic Champions Cup qualification hotting up this is a crucial match and a real test of Harlequins’ nerve and their slightly away Premiership form. Match Fact: Gloucester’s solitary defeat at Kingsholm in any tournament since early October was by a single point to Northampton Saints in Round 12.
The Sunday service starts at Kingston Park where Newcastle Falcons host Saracens and the big news is Billy Vunipola’s return to the latter’s starting line-up. Many expected him to feature but perhaps not to start however from where I’m sitting it’s a sensible move as he warms up and goes straight into the action instead of sitting back on the bench and getting cold. We all know what his impact will be and it’s great to see him involved so quickly again. Falcons have impressed us all so far but as we all know Saracens remain one of the bench marks (one alongside Wasps) and without question all 23 of Dean Richards’ men must take their output to another level. With the form they’ve been showing Falcons have the potential to go well but Saracens’ record against them is impressive and I see that continuing this weekend. Match Fact: Saracens have won their last sixteen fixtures against Newcastle in all tournaments since the Falcons 13-9 win at Kingston Park in Premiership Rugby in February 2009.
The final game of the weekend is a big’un at the bottom of the table between Worcester Warriors and Bristol Rugby. Two points now separate them and with six rounds to go the time pressure is mounting and every single point counts. Both sides know that a victory and potentially denying the other any table points could be vital and both have key players available for the outing. Gavin Henson looked superb against Bath at the weekend and another game like that from the fly-half will put his side in the right position while I’m interested to see what approach Worcester take. Will the home side have the courage of conviction to run the ball and keep ball in hand or will they put boot to ball more often that not? With the ball players in their back line I know which I would pick. Of course there’s a lot on the line with this game so I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a cagey old battle but before kick-off I’ll cling to the hope that we’ll see some free flowing rugby at Sixways given the personnel on both sides. Match Fact: Bristol beat Worcester 28-20 at Ashton Gate in round 11 and have not achieved a Premiership Rugby season’s double over the Warriors since 2006/07 although they did achieve a double in the regular season of the Championship in 2014/15.
Round 17 starts at Welford Road and I’m really looking forward to seeing this one pan out - I will be a little late watching due to working on the Las Vegas Sevens at the time but will enjoy it in full. Leicester’s revival of late has been impressive and with three Premiership wins on the bounce confidence should be building. Confidence is exactly what they’ll need against the Exeter Chiefs because Rob Baxter’s side are unbeaten in their last nine Premiership matches… nine! Personally I’m looking forward to seeing the game management of both Owen Williams and Henry Slade in the 10 jerseys while Olly Woodburn’s clash with JP Pietersen out wide will also be an interesting watch. Without question most people’s heads say Leicester but Exeter have the ability to ruffle feathers and I hope that the weather plays ball for a big start to the round. Match Fact: The last four Premiership Rugby fixtures between the two clubs have all been won by the home side.
Elsewhere on Friday night the AJ Bell Stadium will open its doors as Steve Diamond’s Sale Sharks host Northampton Saints. The real blow for Sale is the injury to Will Addison that rules him out for the rest of the season - he’s been at the heart of their upswing and it's such a shame he's now out. Interestingly this is Northampton’s third away trip in four Aviva Premiership weekends and their two victories in their last seven Premiership away games were won by just a single point. In my view Sale always bring that little bit extra at home and by my reckoning this could be a niggly old game. Match Fact: Northampton’s last two victories at AJ Bell Stadium were back in November 2012 (Premiership Rugby) and April 2014 (European Challenge Cup). 
Saturday’s Premiership rugby will start at The Recreation Ground where Bath host Wasps. Both sides have been hit with injuries but the depth in Wasps’ squad is such that their back line still boats a plethora of highly experienced individuals while Bath must put their faith in young Adam Hastings at fly-half. He’s a talented player but will be thrown in at the deep end and it will be up to his half-back partner - Chris Cook - to use his experience to full effect. Anthony Watson’s return is great to see and in the forwards both packs contain big old units that love to carry and carry with purpose. History shows that matches between these two are always enthralling encounters and I hope that this one follows suit. Match Fact: Wasps have won on their last two visits to The Rec in all competitions, but have never won three in a row at the venue in the professional era. 
A short distance down the road Gloucester Rugby will welcome Harlequins to Kingsholm. The home side are boosted by the return of Billy Burns after that worrying knock that he sustained against Saracens. He’ll partner Willi Heinz and is the only change to a back line that’s really been firing of late. Elsewhere Yann Thomas, John Afoa and Mariano Galarza all come into the pack. Like Bath Harlequins have lost their experienced 10 to injury so Tim Swiel will take the reins while Tim Visser and Kyle Sinckler both return from international duty. With the race for sixth position and automatic Champions Cup qualification hotting up this is a crucial match and a real test of Harlequins’ nerve and their slightly away Premiership form. Match Fact: Gloucester’s solitary defeat at Kingsholm in any tournament since early October was by a single point to Northampton Saints in Round 12. 
The Sunday service starts at Kingston Park where Newcastle Falcons host Saracens and the big news is Billy Vunipola’s return to the latter’s starting line-up. Many expected him to feature but perhaps not to start however from where I’m sitting it’s a sensible move as he warms up and goes straight into the action instead of sitting back on the bench and getting cold. We all know what his impact will be and it’s great to see him involved so quickly again. Falcons have impressed us all so far but as we all know Saracens remain one of the bench marks (one alongside Wasps) and without question all 23 of Dean Richards’ men must take their output to another level. With the form they’ve been showing Falcons have the potential to go well but Saracens’ record against them is impressive and I see that continuing this weekend. Match Fact: Saracens have won their last sixteen fixtures against Newcastle in all tournaments since the Falcons 13-9 win at Kingston Park in Premiership Rugby in February 2009. 
The final game of the weekend is a big’un at the bottom of the table between Worcester Warriors and Bristol Rugby. Two points now separate them and with six rounds to go the time pressure is mounting and every single point counts. Both sides know that a victory and potentially denying the other any table points could be vital and both have key players available for the outing. Gavin Henson looked superb against Bath at the weekend and another game like that from the fly-half will put his side in the right position while I’m interested to see what approach Worcester take. Will the home side have the courage of conviction to run the ball and keep ball in hand or will they put boot to ball more often that not? With the ball players in their back line I know which I would pick. Of course there’s a lot on the line with this game so I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a cagey old battle but before kick-off I’ll cling to the hope that we’ll see some free flowing rugby at Sixways given the personnel on both sides. Match Fact: Bristol beat Worcester 28-20 at Ashton Gate in round 11 and have not achieved a Premiership Rugby season’s double over the Warriors since 2006/07 although they did achieve a double in the regular season of the Championship in 2014/15. 