Preview: Premiership Rugby Round 16 Wednesday Games

 

Some exciting rugby awaits Premiership Rugby tonight with four games on the menu. 

The game between Leicester Tigers and London Irish will only be the bragging rights as both teams are close to the bottom of the competition log. The matches between Saracens and Gloucester Rugby as well as  Worcester Warriors v Harlequins have more or the same reasons to compete, bragging rights. 

However, the match between North Hampton and Bath is very important for both sides championship's hopes. Bath is 5th on the log with Northampton on 6th with both teams level with 40 log points. The winner could move up to the 3rd spot as both teams have one game in hand against Exeter Chiefs, Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks who is placed 1st to 3rd respectively. 

Leicester Tigers v London Irish (Welford Road, 19:00 SA time) 

Leicester Tigers have slipped to three successive Gallagher Premiership Rugby defeats but have not lost four in a row in the tournament in the same season since the 2017-18 campaign. Tigers three defeats in Premiership Rugby at Welford Road this season were against Saracens, Exeter and Bath.

London Irish have lost their last four Gallagher Premiership Rugby encounters, their worst run in the tournament since February 2018. The Exiles have won three times away from home in Premiership Rugby this season, at Wasps in round 1, Northampton and Harlequins in round 9 and 10. London Irish beat Leicester 36-11 at Madejski Stadium in November to end a run of six successive Tigers victories in all competitions in the series, whilst Irish have just once before achieved a season’s league double over Leicester, in the 2002-03 Premiership Rugby campaign. London Irish have won just twice at Welford Road since they first visited in 1923, both in Premiership Rugby, 20-19 in May 2003 and 22-19 in September 2014.

Saracens v Gloucester Rugby (Allianz Park, 19:00 SA time) 

This is the latest kick-off for a match at Allianz Park in Premiership Rugby, previously it was 5pm when they beat today’s opponents, Gloucester, in May 2018. Saracens only defeat in the last four rounds of Gallagher Premiership Rugby was 12-16 at Bristol on 15 August. 

Saracens have won their last nine matches at Allianz Park in all tournaments since Northampton beat them in round one of Premiership Rugby.

Gloucester Rugby’s only victory in their last eight first team matches was 44-15 at Worcester on 15 August. Gloucester have not won successive away games in Premiership Rugby since April 2019. Saracens have lost just one of their last five fixtures against Gloucester: 24-30 at Kingsholm in February 2019 whilst the Cherry & Whites most recent victory on Saracens soil was in November 2008 at Vicarage Road.

Worcester Warriors v Harlequins (Sixways, 19:00 SA time) 

Worcester Warriors have lost their last eight first-team matches since beating Russian opponents Enisei 66-10 at Sixways in January. Warriors most recent victory at Sixways in Premiership Rugby was against London Irish on 28 December.

Harlequins last five matches have all been won by the home side on the day whilst the Londoners’ only away win in Gallagher Premiership Rugby since March 2019 was 28-22 at Wasps on 21 December. Worcester beat Harlequins 19-14 at Twickenham Stoop in round 4 but have not achieved a season’s double over them since 2004-05, their first meetings. ‘Quins have not been victorious at Sixways in Premiership Rugby since January 2016.

Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby (Franklin’s Gardens, 18.45 pm SA time)

Northampton Saints last four matches have all curiously been won by the away side on the day. The Saints have lost their last four Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures at Franklin’s Gardens and have only once before lost five in a row at the famous old venue, from September to November 2004.

Bath Rugby have won both their matches since the restart with a try bonus point but have not gained three maximum point victories in succession in the tournament since April 2018. Bath have won three of their last five away games in Premiership Rugby. Bath have lost just two of their last seven fixtures against The Saints in Premiership Rugby but their only victory at Franklin’s Gardens since April 2000 was 18-14 in September 2016.