Preview: Guinness Premiership, Rd Five
Two weeks of European action lie just ahead but before that we have the chance to enjoy one more round of Premiership action. An intriguing fixture list, keep your eyes on the Wasps Saints clash at Adams Park. rugby365 previews all the action...
After four exciting weeks of Premiership action the table is starting to take shape with Saracens the only undefeated side left in the competition.
Hot on their heels though are London Irish and Northampton - two teams playing fantastic rugby and growing in confidence every week it seems.
Guinness Premiership Round Five:
Friday, 02 October
Sale v London Irish (19.45) (18.45 GMT) - Edgeley Park - Starting the season with a 15-12 win over Leicester, Sale have struggled ever since - recording a draw at Newcastle before suffering back-to-back defeats at the hands of Bath and Worcester.
Making matters worse for Kingsley Jones, he is still without his star flyhalf Charlie Hodgson and, his usual backup, Lee Thomas, is now also listed in the injured column. Nick MacLeod is no doubt an adequate stand-in but the disruption to the team is one that Jones and head coach Jason Robinson could really have done without.
There is also a first start for Sisa Koyamaibole - the former Toulon back row forward is a big unit and it will be interesting to watch his battle with London Irish star Chris Hala'Ufia.
London Irish, sitting in second spot on the Guinness Premiership ladder, have enjoyed far better fortunes than their opponents so far this season. The League highest try scorers, Booth’s men are showing the form which has people believing they could once again be genuine title contenders.
Watch out as well for the performance of new No.10 Chris Malone.
rugby365 Prediction: Two teams on different ends of the form curve - London Irish have a powerful squad and, despite making five changes from last weekend's successful lineup, head into this match as favourites. Irish by 10 or more.
Saturday, 03 October
Leicester v Worcester (15.00) (14.00 GMT) - Welford Road - Speaking to Matt Powell earlier in the week, it is clear that the Warriors head to Welford Road knowing full well the size of the challenge which lies ahead of them.
The Tigers are certainly nowhere near their best but, despite that, still find themselves clawing to the top four and the favourites to with the competition outright.
They have though suffered a massive blow this week. Their captain, Irish fullback Geordan Murphy, has been ruled out for up to four months and, with Toby Flood, Sam Vesty and Alesana Tuilagi still missing, the Tigers are nowhere near full strength.
Mike Ruddock's Warriors on the other hand have enjoyed a decent start to the season despite being written off by many a pundit before the start of the new campaign.
With two wins from four, including last weekend 24-18 victory over Sale, Pat Sanderson's side are proving to be a tough side to turnover. Armed with an exciting backline, with a nice mixture of young and old talent, the Warriors' big test over the weekend will come in the battle up front.
rugby365 Prediction: Worcester have really impressed over the last four weeks. However, heading to Welford Road is a different challenge altogether and, while they could push Richard Cockerill's team, the Tigers will win it in the end… by eight or more.
Harlequins v Bath (18.05) (17.05 GMT) - The Stoop - Two early season strugglers, Bath have started to turn it around in the last couple of weeks while Harlequins have merely flirted with the idea.
Inspired by the form of Matt Banahan and Nicky Little, Steve Meehan's men are starting to look like the Bath of old. Banahan, playing at outside centre, was instrumental in their 20-all draw with the Tigers while Little, known for his flair, has shown great composure and leadership in his two starts for Bath so far.
Springbok hooker Gary Botha has decided to leave Harlequins after this weekend’s match - the South African has decided it is time for him to head back to South Africa. He though, more than anyone, will be hoping that he can leave the club with a victory after all the tough times they have been through in recent months.
Undoubtedly still with a talented squad, the performance of Quins so far this season has been disappointing. Surely though they will turn it around eventually?
rugby365 Prediction: Having put our faith in Harlequins in the past we have had our trust shaken. They are though back at the Stoop this weekend. Rightly or wrongly, we're backing Quins to win a tight match - probably by less than five.
Sunday, 04 October
Leeds v Gloucester (15:00) (14:00 GMT) - Headingley - Two teams struggling around the bottom of the table, both desperately need a victory this weekend.
Newly promoted Leeds were perhaps expected to struggle but Gloucester, replacing Dean Ryan in the summer, would certainly have been looking for a better return than one win from four. The Cherry and Whites where unlucky last weekend though. Going down 19-16 to a high flying Saracens at Vicarage Road, Bryan Redpath will be hoping his sides can take plenty of positives out of that performance.
Carnegie on the other hand will want to put two heavy defeats in consecutive matches behind them and start climbing away from the foot of the table.
rugby365 Prediction: Despite being pretty unimpressive since their opening day victory over Bath, Gloucester should still have far too much firepower for Leeds. Expect a spirited display from Neil Back’s men but it won’t be enough. Gloucester to take it by nine or more.
Wasps v Northampton (15.00) (14.00 GMT) - Adams Park - rugby365's match of the weekend, Wasps and Northampton are two sides packed full of attacking potential.
The 2007/08 Guinness Premiership Champions are still without their captain, Tom Rees, but have suffered just one defeat in their opening four fixtures of the new season. That defeat, a 28-16 loss to London Irish last weekend, was disappointing but, returning to Adams Park, Wasps will be expecting to return to winning ways as well.
Jim Mallinder's men have lived up to their pre-season billing and seem set to be one of the teams to watch this season. Playing exciting rugby, spearheaded by their new playmaker Shane Geraghty.
The battle of the two No.10's - Danny Cipriani and Geraghty, is going to be an especially interesting one. Both players are gunning for English call-ups this November and there is little doubt that Martin Johnson will be looking on with interest..
rugby365 Prediction: Toughest one to call this weekend - we're tipping the home side. Their slip up last weekend will only have given them more motivation and, with the likes of Tom Varndell, Paul Sackey and Joe Simpson all in form, Wasps will take it by three.
Falcons v Saracens (15.00) (14.00 GMT) - Kingston Park - Sunday's third fixture sees two of the busiest teams in the summer transfer market going head-to-head.
The Falcons of course bought in over 20 news players to their squad while Saracens, under new boss Brendan Venter, recruited in excess of ten new faces over the off season.
Steve Bates' men have had an odd first four rounds of the new season. Recording three draws in four matches, the Falcons are proving a tough side to break down but, at the same time, are struggling themselves to score tries and penetrate the opposition's defenses.
A number of Sarries players have already impressed this season. Saxons centre Brad Barritt is being tipped for a promotion to the Elite squad while Kiwi Glen Jackson remains one of the most reliable No.10's in the league.
One major disappointment for the log leaders this week though has the injury to captain Steve Borthwick. The inspirational second row took a stamp to the eye last weekend and is not expected to feature again until just before the start of the autumn international season.
rugby365 Prediction: Form insists that we back Saracens this weekend but, playing at Kingston Park, there is certainly the possibility of an upset. Carl Hayman's men are an impressive unit and one which we expect to get better as the season progresses. Saracens, but by less than five points.
by rugby365.