By Wellsaint
November 12 2004

Yes, it's already Round 9 of the Zurich Premiership, and Saints look like they've done the first eight rounds with Iron Mike Tyson at his best. This week, we welcome London Irish to the Brucie Bonus venue that is Franklin's Gardens (well what do points make? Prizes!) Zurich Premiership Round 9 Betting Guide

Yes, it's already Round 9 of the Zurich Premiership, and Saints look like they've done the first eight rounds with Iron Mike Tyson at his best. This week, we welcome London Irish to the Brucie Bonus venue that is Franklin's Gardens (well what do points make? Prizes!) for a breakfast time kick off of 12.30 pm (well, as far as I'm concerned, at the weekend, that's close enough to breakfast time for me.) The reason for this? So that the RFU can raise a few more million charging 40 notes and upwards to watch England do something fairly nasty to Canada(probably.) If anyone from the RFU's reading this (or, indeed, if anyone in the
RFU can actually read), rather than spending the proceeds on Twickenham stadium so that a few more thousand corporate hostility tickets can be sold, could some money be spent on discovering some refereeing talent, as opposed to some of the myopic muppets we have to suffer at present, and also installing, in all Premiership Rugby stadia (including squats registered as Premiership Rugby stadia) a game clock, paid for by a grant from the RFU, so we all know how long there is to play in a game? According to today's Times, England make £5m per autumn international, so the money's there...

(I remember when this was a betting column....)

Yes, I was just coming to that... remember, with the autumn international call-ups affecting the Zurich Premiership games, there could be some odd results, so tread carefully.

Friday night

Gloucester v Wasps (live on Sky)

Gloucester, after losing last week at Welford Road, will want to get back to winning ways at Kingsholm against Wasps, who beat Quins narrowly last week. Obviously this is a game which will be seriously affected by England call-ups. Nethertheless, Gloucester have a terrific home record, and I take them to prevail, by around 4 points. As an added bonus,if you shop around, you can get Gloucester with a 2 point start on the handicap. Similarly,those who want to back Wasps can get a level start by choosing their bookmaker with care.

Harlequins v Saracens

Harlequins performances seem to be on an upward curve and they have to start winning sometime. They face a Saracens side who lost their home game at Franklins Gardens against Bath last week. I think (and this may be bad news for Saints) that the Quins revival starts here, as they win by four points. Unfortunately, the handicap line is Quins to win by between two and four points, so this is a very risky play, unless you think Quins will win (relatively!) easily, or you can find the 2 point handicap.

Saturday breakfast time matches

Bath v Sale

If there was ever a week to meet Sale this is probably it as they will lose several players to the England squad. That said, Bath won't have their full contingent either. A tricky one to call in the circumstances, but I take Bath by five.

Worcester v Leicester

Worcester have come close to winning several games, but have only actually beaten Quins so far this year. Leicester will be affected by call-ups more than Worcester, but not to the same degree as in years gone by. If we thought the Leicester ship was in choppy waters in Biarritz, it seemed to be sailing pretty well last week back at Welford Road. Then again, Worcester have taken several bonus points for keeping it within seven points, and could do again this week - Leicester by six.

Northampton Saints v London Irish

Six straight losses in the Premiership, and lookie here, who's coming to town but Reading's finest? As Mark H has said elsewhere, just what you don't want, really. If there are any bookmakers left who seriously believe Saints are clear favourites to win this, I suggest you go and find a new odds compiler, and fast. Two wins against struggling Celtic League opposition does not a revival make. London Irish may not have Sackey this time round, but they're still no easy number. If we play as we did against Llanelli, we have a chance. If we play like we did against Wasps, Gloucester, Sale and Saracens, come 2.15pm, we're going to be facing an even bigger problem than the one we have now. I hope for the best; I fear the worst. London Irish by eight.


Sunday's game

Newcastle v Leeds

What the result of this game might be depends on whether Leeds are actually refereed this week or whether the law book is completely disregarded as it seems to have been last week. I take Newcastle to win this by ten points.