WRW FRIDAY: TIME TO GET TO WORK
Key games ahead for Tigers, Lightning and the Championship
RUGBY ON TV THIS WEEKEND
Tonight:
Gallagher Premiership
Northampton v London Irish, 7.45pm, BT Sport 1
Saturday:
Gallagher Premiership
Sale Sharks v Gloucester, 12.30pm, BT Sport Extra
Exeter v Wasps, 12.30pm, BT Sport 3
Newcastle v Bristol, 5.00pm, Channel 5/BT Sport 3
Harlequins v Worcester, 5.00pm, BT Sport Extra
Women’s Six Nations
Ireland v France, 2.15pm, BBC iPlayer
Scotland v Italy, 5.00pm, BBC iPlayer
Sunday:
Gallagher Premiership
Bath v TIGERS, 3.00pm, BT Sport 3
TEAMS UP
Reaction to that team news comes in the short and long version…
Heres the short version:
The longer version..
Three changes for Bath, who bring back Underhill, Muir and have Matavesi in at their problem position of fly-half.
Leicester make eight changes but it’s broadly what you would expect with Liebenberg not quite shaking off the head knock he took in the Newcastle win. As he’s done in previous weeks, Kelly wins the vote at centre while it’s Youngs to start with Wigglesworth off the bench at 9.
But to me, the Leicester backrow have a chance to shine against an international-standard opposition in Mercer, Underhill and Faletau - two of which could easily make the Lions tour. Reffell with a job on there and let’s see if Wiese charges a little wider to make life more difficult for Bath’s no.7.
Don’t be late for this one.
THE RUN-IN STARTS HERE
Tonight:
Northampton v London Irish - 5th v 6th in the table. Saints have traditionally had too much power for the Exiles in recent years and with Creevy missing and Irish still one lock short of full strength, you’d back Northampton here one week out from the Derby.
Saturday:
Sale Sharks v Gloucester: Alex Sanderson makes six changes as he rotates from that humbling defeat at La Rochelle. With Lood De Jager again on the injured list, Wiese and JP Du Preez line up in the second row. Gloucester who were demolished by La Rochelle a week earlier, see Jonny May makes his 150th appearance for the club, but have lost four times in their last five meetings with Sale.
Exeter v Wasps: Jack Nowell is on the Exeter bench for his first appearance of the season, following toe surgery and then a torn hamstring. The champions make four changes, with Cordero in the backs among them replacing Woodburn. After a week off following the agonising defeat to Clermont, Wasps with three changes as Gaskell and Minozzi are among those out injured.
Newcastle v Bristol: Toby Flood is back from injury for Falcons who are looking to get more set-piece parity this weekend against the league leaders, who interestingly make nine changes. They’ve won five in a row in the Premiership and are unbeaten in seven, and will break a club record if they make it eight.
Harlequins v Worcester: Quins, who were distinctly under-strength when Ulster beat them in the Challenge Cup, make 13 changes in the starting XV, with Lawday and Green the only survivors. Worcester, who had Saints put 60 points on them last time out and have since had two weeks off, have only lost once to Quins in the Premiership since 2017. Graham Kitchener is one to return.
TIME STARTING TO RUN OUT FOR LIGHTNING
A break for England from the Women’s Six Nations offers a free weekend which is filled by the penultimate round of the Allianz Premier 15s.
While Ireland play France to decide who will face England in the Six Nations Final at Twickenham, Loughborough Lightning could book a place in the fourth playoff position - even without their England internationals.
With Wasps having won their game in hand. Loughborough need one more win from their remaining two games to punch that ticket. The problem is that defending champions Saracens Women are the visitors to the university this weekend (Saturday 2pm kick off) in what could well be a rehearsal for the semi-final.
There is a live stream of the game planned on YouTube.
Should Lightning come unstuck this weekend, a final home win over Sale becomes imperative to prevent Exeter Chiefs or Gloucester-Hartpury stealing that last place.
BTW, Exeter go to Sale Sharks this weekend then host Gloucester-Hartpury on the final day, which is on May 7th.
SARACENS FACE BIGGEST TEST YET
Midway through the abbreviated Championship campaign, it continues to provide more interest than the lower reaches of the Premiership campaign. If Saracens had soundly beaten Cornish Pirates on opening day rather than the other way around, it may well have been a different matter, but I know of at least one national newspaper who are sending a reporter to Doncaster v Saracens on Sunday, rather to the Rec.
That 3.00pm kick-off in South Yorkshire does catch the eye as does Saracens’ team selection.
Remember - and I forgot last week - the top two only go into a two-legged final.
Saracens trail Doncaster by 5 points, with a game in hand. Defeat for the two-time European champions at full strength would surely represent the greatest shock in the history of the sport and put Doncaster up there with Japan v South Africa, Ronnie Radford v Newcastle, et al. (Look at that Saracens pack!!)
But the top two places will be far from done regardless of what happens on Sunday. Saracens host Ealing next week, while Doncaster have to go to West London themselves next month.
And not to burst anyone’s bubble…but a weaker Saracens side beat Doncaster in pre-season rather comfortably.
QUICK HITS
Early call for your attention tomorrow morning.
Former Tigers prop staying at Edinburgh while an ex-Tigers centre is heading further afield…
Nice couple of tries from Crusaders analysed here by Rob Vickerman:
RUNNING FROM DEEP
There is a spot open for a place on World Rugby’ Executive Committee where scandalously there is only one woman among the 10 other men. After Gareth Davies’ removal from his post as Welsh Rugby Union chairman, he lost his seat on the ExCom as well. Three candidates aim to replace him:
Cristina Flores (Rugby Americas North) nominated and proposed by Rugby Americas North and seconded by Oceania Rugby
Ada Milby (Asia Rugby) nominated and proposed by Asia Rugby and seconded by South Africa Rugby Union
Jonathan Webb (Rugby Football Union) nominated and proposed by the Rugby Football Union and seconded by Rugby Australia
The upcoming election therefore presents a golden opportunity for World Rugby to prove what Chair Bill Beaumont recently described as its "unwavering commitment to advancing women in rugby both on and off the field."
And yet…look at the balance of power on the committee…
The Six Nations have vice-chair Bernard Laporte, Scotland’s John Jeffrey and Wales’ Mervyn Davies. That’s 3, with Gareth Davies’ place becoming vacant, making 4
Khaled Babbou of Rugby Africa - who despite talking the talk about rugby expansion -delivered decisive votes for Beaumont in last year’s election. That’s 5
New Zealand (Bart Campbell), Australia (Brett Robinson) and South Africa (Mark Alexander) have one place each making 3.
The United States (Bob Latham) ended up voting for Agustin Pichot last year, with Ruggiero’s largely non-executive role leaving her views unknown
Webb’s election would mean more of the same. A vote for either Flores or Milby is a vote for change - and for a little more regional balance.
And anyone fancy some law trials? Wales Online outlined what the Rainbow Cup has in store…
In the newly-formed competition, which kicks off next week, a red carded player can be replaced after 20 minutes, captains can challenge the decision of the referee and rugby league-style goal-line dropouts will be brought in.
The laws are already being trialled in Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU and the Rainbow Cup will now join the World Rugby law trials programme.
The most eye-opening new law is that a player who has been sent off can be replaced after 20 minutes.
Players who have already been replaced for tactical reasons are permitted to come back onto the field in this scenario but the player who received the red card cannot return.
Thoughts very welcome….
Have a great weekend everyone. Stay safe and until we see you again..
Chris
Surely a red card is sending off, not 20 minutes of detention?
The others are nonsense, driven by the SH and its need to fight for viewers on TV, ball in play time etc
Hate every one of those law trials; and I contend that it’s not just because I’m an old fart 💨