Newcastle vs Exeter
Kickoff: 7:45pm Friday
The two remaining premiership teams without a win meet at Kington Park on Friday night. Both will see this as a huge opportunity but Exeter are the clear favourites. The southerners have been in games all season but have narrowly lost ganes in the closing stages, meanwhile Newcastle have struggled to be competitive in their games. The difference between the sides is best illustrated by the output of star players; Feyi-Waboso and Brown-Bampoe have both scored multiple tries whereas Radwan has been unable to affect games for the Falcons.
Team news
Newcastle
The Falcons are strenthened by the return of their centre partnership, Doherty and Arnold will be looking to provide more stability than their replacements managed in previous games. Ben Redshaw also returnsfrom injury to start at fullback in an electric back three with Adam Radwan and Be Stevenson.
Exeter
Ethan Roots starts at blindside flanker with Fisilau on the bench. Maunder and Skinner remain as the half-back duo.
Line-ups:
Newcastle
1.Brocklebank 2.Blamire 3.Palframan 4.Rubiolo 5.Hawkins 6.Van Der Walt 7.Gordon 8.Chick(C)
9.Stuart 10.Grayson 11.Stevenson 12.Arnold 13.Doherty 14.Radwan 15.Redshaw
Exeter
1.Sio 2.Yeandle(C) 3.Street 4.Tuima 5.Molina 6.Roots 7.Captsick 8.Vintcent
9.Maunder 10.Skinner 11.Brown-Bampoe 12.Hawkins 13.Woodburn 14.Feyi-Wabsoso 15.Hodge
My prediction: Newcastle 20 vs 35 Exeter
Northampton vs Sale
Kickoff:7:45pm Friday
Northampton have had an underwhelming start to life as champions. This week the task gets no easier as they have to take on Sale Sharks who will be full of confidence having thumped Newcastle last week. Northampton will be wanting to prove that they aren't missing the likes of Lewis Ludlam and Courtney Lawes in their back row and what better test than to play against the Curry brothers? It will be interesting to see how exciting youngster Henry Pollock gets on when he starts at a less familiar position in the back row.
Team news:
Northampton
Injuries to Augustus and Sam Graham mean that Henry Pollock starts at no.8. George Hendy comes into the team on the wing with James Ramm dropping to the bench. Ollie Sleightholme comes in to start on the other wing with Tommy Freeman moving inside to play at outside centre. Trevor Davison also returns and starts in place of Millar-Mills.
Sale
The Curry brothers start for the second game in a row. They are joined by Dan Du Preez who will start at no.8. Fijian star Nayacalevu returns to the starting as well as O'Flaherty and Opoku-Fudjour.
Line-ups:
Northampton
1.Ioygun 2.Smith 3.Davison 4.Thornbury 5.Munga 6.Scott-Young 7.Pearson 8.Pollock
9.James 10.Smith 11.Sleightholme 12.Hutchinson 13.Freeman 14.Hendy 15.Furbank(C)
My prediction:
Northampton 21 vs 20 Sale
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