Gallagher Premiership week 9 preview - Saturday

Published on 28 December 2024 at 10:15

Bath vs Saracens

Kickoff: 12:45pm Saturday TNT Sports

 

Team news

 

Bath 

1.Obano 2.Dun 3.Du Toit 4.Roux 5.Ewels 6.Hill 7.Pepper 8.Barbeary

9.Spencer(C) 10.Russell 11.Muir 12.Redpath 13.Lawrence 14.Cokanasiga 15.De Glanville

16.Annett 17.Van Wyck 18.Stuart 19.Molony 20.Underhill 21.Schreuder 22.Ojomoh 23.Reid

 

 

Saracens

1.Brantingham 2.George 3.Balmain 4.Itoje(C) 5.Isiekwe 6.Mcfarland 7.Knight 8.Earl 

9.Simpson 10.Burke 11.Segun 12.Hartley 13.Lozowski 14.Elliot 15.Williams

16.Pifeleti 17.Mawi 18.Clarey 19.Wilson 20.Michelow 21.Van Zyl 22.Spink 23.Hall 

 

This is a heavyweight match-up at the rec. Bath are once again favourites to make the final whilst Saracens remain imperious. Bath are buoyed by the return of Beno Obano who starts at loosehead prop. Saracens are still without Goode and Daly so Williams starts at fullback in a back three with Elliot and Segun. Theo Dan is out of the squad so Jamie George starts in his place. Bath will be favourites in a tough match. 

 

Prediction:

Bath 24 vs 20 Saracens

 

 

 

Northampton vs Newcastle

Kickoff: 3pm Saturday TNT Sports

 

Team news:

 

Northampton

1.West 2.Walker 3.Davison 4.Munga 5.Coles 6.Kemeny 7.Pearson 8.Pollock 

9.Mitchell 10.Smith 11.Sleightholme 12.Dingwall 13.Litchfield 14.Freeman 15.Hendy

16.C.Langdon 17.Haffar 18.Green 19.Mayanavanu 20.Scott-Young 21.Mapu 22.Mcparland 23.Hutchison

 

 

Newcastle

1.McCallum 2.Blamire 3.Palframan 4.De Chaves 5.Mcdonald 6.Lockwood 7.Gordon 8.Chick(C)

9.Stuart 10.Connon 11.Stevenson 12.Doherty 13.Hearle 14.Radwan 15.Redshaw

16.Fletcher 17.Rewcastle 18.Hancock 19.Hawkins 20.Van Der Walt 21.O'Sullivan 22.Wilkinson 23.Spencer

 

This is a must-win game for Northampton. They have struggled this season and need to turn around their form quickly. This is a big opportunitu, Newcastle are not a good away team so much will be expected of the hosts. Newcastle have some injuries and will be be big underdogs but have shown an ability to pull off upsets.

 

Prediction:

Northampton 38 vs 12 Newcastle

 

 

Harlequins vs Leicester

Kickoff:6pm Saturday TNT Sports

 

Team news: 

 

Harlequins:

1.Baxter 2.Walker 3.Lamositele 4.Herbst 5.Lamb 6.Chisholm 7.Kenningham 8.Dombrandt 

9.Care 10.Smith 11.Murley 12.Northmore 13.Beard 14.Isgro 15.David

16.RIley 17.Jones 18.Lewis 19.Launchbury 20.Cunningham-South 21.W.Evans 22.Porter 23.J.Evans

 

Leicester

1.Smith 2.Montya(C) 3.Heyes 4.Henderson 5.Martin 6.Liebenberg 7.Reffell 8.Cracknell 

9.Van Poortvliet 10.Pollard 11.Hassell-Collins 12.Kata 13.Kelly 14.Brown 15.Steward

16.Clare 17.Whitcombe 18.Cole 19.Holloway 20.Ilione 21.Youngs 22.Shillcock 23.Woodward

 

Harlequins have stacked the bench with game changers. Launcbury, Cunningham-South and Evans will bolster the pack in the latter stages. Northmore startsat inside centre ahead of Anyanwu who struggled in the last game against Gloucester. Harlequins need to in basically 8 of their final 10 games to have a shot at making the playoffs so they can't afford any slip ups tofay.

Leicester also need to bounce back from a disappointing loss. They were embarrassed at home by Bristol and booed by their own fans at half time. Today represents an opportunity for one of these teams to put things right.

 

Preiction:

Harlequins 23 vs 25 Leicester

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