The final round of the Aviva Premiership takes place on Saturday and with relegation and the top four both decided, the key areas will be the battle for the final Heineken Cup place and the scramble for position in the top for.
Topping that bill will be Harlequins v Northampton. Quins currently lie third with Northampton fourth and both will be likely to finish with away semi finals. However should Quins win and the Tigers lose at home to London Irish then it is possible that Quins could finish second and gain a home semi.
It seems unlikely that Tigers will blow it against London Irish though, the Exiles have nothing to play for except pride now as they have staved off relegation but are to far adrift of the top six to stand any chance of Heineken Cup qualification.
Bath on the other hand have everything to play for when the travel to Saracens. Saracens are top of the league and guaranteed a home semi final and so may just have their foot off the gas, through they would like to secure first place in the league.
That represents a chance for Bath though who currently lie just one stop away from the Heineken Cup places, two points adrift of Exeter in sixth. They will be hoping that Gloucester beat the Chiefs at Sandy Park in order to qualify as although they could theoretically finish level on points with Gloucester, Gloucester would still qualify due to their superior number of wins.
Wasps were in contention until they lost to Exeter a fortnight ago, they face a dead rubber against Sale who have managed to avoid relegation.
Sale’s fortune was London Welsh’s misfortune, the Exiles were relegated a few weeks ago and sit thirteen points adrift.
They welcome a Worcester side to the Kassam, with Worcester out to impress their new Director of Rugby Dean Ryan, however Welsh may just spring a surprise as they aim to finish their year long trip to the Premiership with a victory.
Fixtures (All on Saturday, all at 14.30, predictions in bold):
Exeter v Gloucester
Harlequins v Northampton
Leicester v London Irish
London Welsh v Worcester
Sale v London Wasps
Saracens v Bath
Aviva Premiership Table | |||||||
Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | BP | Points | |
1 | Saracens | 21 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 73 |
2 | Leicester | 21 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 69 |
3 | Harlequins | 21 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 65 |
4 | Northampton | 21 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 64 |
5 | Gloucester | 21 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 58 |
6 | Exeter | 21 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 55 |
7 | Bath | 21 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 53 |
8 | London Wasps | 21 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 11 | 47 |
9 | London Irish | 21 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 35 |
10 | Worcester | 21 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 33 |
11 | Sale | 21 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 31 |
12 | London Welsh | 21 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 18* |
*London Welsh docked five points of fielding an ineligible player.
