Rugby fans are in for a treat this Christmas Eve with the Gallagher Premiership throwing up some decent fare including clashes between a highly entertaining London Irish side and league pacesetters Saracens as well as what should be a competitive fixture between Leicester and Gloucester.
Friday 23 December
London Irish 11/5 | Draw 28/1 | Saracens 1/3 (19:45)
We kick things off with a clash at the Gtech COmmunity Stadium between 10th-placed London Irish and table-toppers Saracens.
The hosts have been far more competitive than their log position indicates and have lost a number of games by the narrowest of margins. They gave a decent if not spectacular account of themselves in Europe over the past fortnight going down 27-32 to French heavyweights Montpellier and then 34-14 to the Stormers in their first hit out on South African shores.
Saracens have enjoyed a far more positive Premiership season thus far and are the only side left in the English top tier yet to taste defeat. They also had a very good start to their Heineken Cup campaign beating Edinburgh 30-26 in North London and then Lyon 20-28 in France.
I reckon this one will be a Christmas cracker with loads of tries. I also think it will be a lot tighter than the bookies think, which is why I’m happy to back the hosts on the plus.
Newcastle 7/5 | Draw 24/1 | Sale 8/15 (19:45)
We head north for our next fixture which will see the Newcastle Falcons take on the Sale Sharks in what has been a heated derby in the recent past.
The two sides have experienced vastly contrasting campaigns with the Falcons having struggled for the most part. In contrast, Sale have been immaculate and currently sit seven places above their opponents on the standings.
The duo were involved in European action over the past two weekends with Newcastle suffering two disappointing defeats as they went down 10-47 to Cardiff and 22-8 to Connacht, whilst Sale hammered Ulster 39-0 and then suffered a 45-19 defeat to Top 14 leaders, Toulouse.
Sale have been outstanding this term and should be able to clear the handicap against a handy, but underwhelming Falcons side.
Saturday 24 December
Leicester 4/11 | Draw 25/1 | Gloucester 2/1
We travel to Welford Road for our penultimate game of the weekend which will see fifth-placed Leicester take on fourth-placed Gloucester. Only two points separate the sides on the standings so this game could essentially be an eight-point swing in the run-in for the semi-final berths.
The hosts enjoyed a solid time of it in the opening two weeks of the Heineken Cup as they registered wins over the Ospreys (17-23) and Clermont (17-23). Gloucester, on the other hand, had a mixed bag in the opening two rounds of the Heineken Cup as they started brightly beating Bordeaux 22-17 but then were brought crashing down to earth by a rampant Leinster outfit who hammered them 57-0.
The Tigers haven’t really been able to let loose on attack in recent weeks which will be a worry for them as Gloucester, while having a porous defence, know their way to the try line. I reckon the visitors may just edge this one.
Exeter 21/100 | Draw 28/1 | Bath 3/1 (15:00)
We bring things to a close at Sandy Park where a Bath side who are looking to the future will be looking to build on some improved showings when they take on a hit-and-miss Exeter outfit.
The hosts have been extremely unpredictable this term with some almighty efforts followed up by dour showings. They currently lie in seventh spot on the standings having won just four fixtures this term. They do come into this one off the back of morale-boosting results as they beat the Blue Bulls 44-14 and Castres 12-27 in the opening two rounds of the Heineken Cup.
Bath are only three points adrift of their opponents on the standings and they’ll be desperate for a win here. Unlike Exeter, Bath struggled in Europe going down 19-22 to Glasgow and 29-7 to Toulon in the opening two Rounds of the Challenge Cup.
Bath have become a really dogged side and I reckon they’ll give the Chiefs a real run at Sandy Park this Saturday. Get on the plus here.
