Just the 4 out of 6 for Scrum5ive last weekend with Northampton Saints sneaking a high scoring win at Bristol Bears and Harlequins gaining the biggest surprise of the weekend as they scraped past Gloucester at Kingsholm.
This week is the trickiest so far to pick with so many teams playing against their rivals from the same area of the league table.
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Friday night under The Rec lights and this Westcountry Derby could be a little fizzer.
Bath may have taken a big beating at Saracens last weekend but this will be a completely different team that welcomes The Chiefs. All of the big guns will be refreshed and back in contention for a starting spot.
Todd Blackadder has taken some scathing criticism to rest his more established players against Saracens but should they win on Friday then all will be forgiven.
Chiefs are still unbeaten and heading the chasing pack on Saracens but they have laboured slightly to wins in the last two rounds.
A derby match is different though and the chance to keep the pressure up on the top of the table will see them fired up and raring to go.
That said, with one eye on next weeks Heineken Cup matches, I think that their 100% record may well be under threat and the home side will have something to prove as well.
Bath by 6
Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers
It’s the big one at Twickenham with The Saints swapping Franklin’s Gardens for HQ.
This East Midland’s derby will be played out in aid of Rob Horne after his serious injury from last season cut his career short.
This will be all the motivation that Northampton need to win this game but that alone will not do the desired trick.
They finally found some fluency in their attack last weekend against Bristol but were far too narrow in defence as the wide pitch at Ashton Gate almost became their Achilles heel.
The way they were attacked last weekend won’t be lost on Leicester as they seek to back up their turgid win over Sale in which the unforced error count looked like a cricket score by the end of it.
Purely for the fluency in attack that Saints seem to be finding I think that they will take this but the battle at ten between George Ford and Dan Biggar will be an interesting side show as well.
Northampton Saints by 12
Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons
Sale are slowly turning themselves into favourites for the drop with the way that they are currently playing.
It’s Round 6 and their solitary victory added to a losing bonus point is all that they have to show for their efforts.
Their highest score is just 23 this season as they have only reached 20+ twice.
They may say that they are missing Faf de Klerk whilst he is away with the Springboks but there is enough experience and class in this team to take some of that slack.
Newcastle’s record on paper isn’t any better but in reality, they are showing signs of improvement and have only been very narrowly beaten in their last two.
They will continue to improve and heap more misery on Steve Diamond.
Newcastle by 9
Wasps v Gloucester Rugby
Wasps seem to be finding their feet now and are stringing some positive results together. They have won 3 of their 4 games by just a single score this season but they won’t mind that as winning is a nice habit to have.
Gloucester are in some what of a slump after their surprise loss at home to Quins last week. It seems their beating at Saracens the week before may well have dented their confidence after such a good start to the season.
I don’t think that this slump will end at the Ricoh unfortunately for them.
Wasps by 17
Harlequins v Saracens
Being a Quins fan must be one of the most confusing hobbies right now? Terrible one week and then the next week they pull off a big scalp like they did last week at Gloucester.
Nathan Earle was a shrewd summer signing from this week’s opponents and his brace last week coupled with the feeling that he may have a point to prove against his former employers may make him a key player this weekend.
Saracens became the first team in Premiership history to have maximum points after five matches following their demolition of Bath last weekend and unfortunately for the rest of the league they don’t look like showing any mercy.
Their depth is enviable to say the least but Brad Barritt will be a miss this week this week for them following his serious cheek injury he sustained last weekend.
Harlequins actually have a fantastic recent record against Sarries at the Stoop but this salary cap busting away team will ease to victory.
Saracens by 17
Worcester Warriors v Bristol Bears
This may not be the glamour tie of the weekend but it could well be the most important.
Worcester desperately need a win or they will start losing sight of Bristol up the table.
Warriors’ performances belie their results so far this season and count themselves extremely unlucky only to have one win on the board so far.
They are very tough to break down and but for some missed opportunities late on in matches they could have been looking very comfortable in the table.
Bristol have also been refreshing to watch this season and they won’t be naïve to the fact that having 14 or 15 points after six matches would be half of their job done in surviving this season.
Although they were beaten last weekend they still scored 40 points against Saints and if they can stop this being an arm wrestle up front whilst Duncan Weir kicks the corners they could grab one of the most important victories of their history.
Worcester have been better than their league position suggests though and I think they will dictate this one for a narrow victory.
Worcester by 6
