By Wellsaint
November 4 2005

Wellsaint once again casts his eagle eye over this weekend's Premiership fixtures.

Guinness Premiership Weekend Betting Preview



Friday Night

Worcester v Leicester

An interesting match-up, this; Leicester's record on Friday nights of late isn't that hot (defeated at Newport, lucky draw at Welford Road) and they go to Worcester, never the easiest of trips, on the back of a poor performance in Paris.  I was
hoping that the bookmakers would give Worcester a generous start, but they are only giving them between 4 and 6 points on the handicap.  I think this will be a close game, but as for who wins?  Not sure - a draw wouldn't be the biggest surprise, but Leicester are favourites for sure.  Worcester receiving 6 points would be my call, but only for the very, very brave.

London Wasps v Bristol

Wasps are 16 to 18 point favourites for this game and that mark could look high come 9.30 tonight.  Wasps drew 15-all with Toulouse last week whilst Bristol...yes, well...Again, only for the brave, but Bristol may be able to cover the 18 points.


Saturday's games


Leeds v Sale (live on Sky - why?...)

This just shows the sheer futility of picking live TV games months in advance. The only reason I can see for it is that the kick-off times need changing to suit Sky's schedule - oh how I long for the day when the clubs say "no, you know when
we kick off, if you want to send your cameras along, please do."  Then again, I also long for the day when Cindy Crawford... (oh lordy, he's off on that one again - the Eds.) The only glimmer of hope Leeds have got is that Sale will be without some key players due to the RFU fundraisers being held over the next few weeks.  Then again, we are talking about a side who were losing to Calvisano at half-time last week... (Leeds in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup? - spare us, please) - any result other than a Sale win by two scores or more will be something of a surprise. 


Saracens v Northampton

For the most part I've resisted temptation to say what I really think about our start to the season.  Rest assured that I won't be able to keep it in for much longer. The four wins in a row, against Worcester, Newport Gwent Dragons (whose class was laid bare for all to see last weekend), London Irish (who we scraped by with a two-point margin) and Viadana (who we managed to concede three tries to) was hardly a run of greatness, bearing in mind the latter three games were all at home against inferior (in my opinion) opposition.  I commented to someone who contributes to this board on a regular basis that sooner or later someone was going to dump on us big time. Well, I didn't have to wait too long did I - down to Bristol by 30 points to 7 halfway through the second half. Yes, we scored four tries, yes, we got it back to 33-28, and yes, once more we concede a penalty and lose one of the two bonus points. 

Do I like this new brand of throw-it round running rugby?  Do I holes.  I'll be much happier once it's hit home that they are NOT the Baa-Baas in disguise, and they tighten up the defence accordingly.  An illustration if I may - Sale the season before last - loads of high scoring games, but losing as many as winning, if my memory serves.  Solution?  They go and get a "D". Result - an improving season last year, this year, top of the pile - they still play their open expansive game, but get this, THEY SCORE MORE POINTS THAN THEY CONCEDE, even against similar level or superior opposition. (Is this a match preview or a rant? - Eds.) And so, what will happen this weekend at Saracens? 

Sarries are in form, and considering their last home win was against Biarritz, I know what I think will happen on Saturday. Both teams lose players to the Autumn Cashcows, but Saracens are the team in better form, are increasingly hard to beat at Vicarage Road, and for that reason, I see Saracens as the winners.  As for the margin - if we aren't careful I can see us getting stuffed. I may be in a majority of one, but I prefer a good, close, low-scoring game every time. I can see Saracens winning this by a double digit scoreline - say twelve.

Oh yeah, and big thanks to BBC Radio Northampton for choosing to cover the FA Cup game at Wycombe over this match.  Little lesson for you guys - average attendance at FG, 12,000 plus; average attendance at Sixfields, less than half that.  And thanks for coming on here and posting the number to text entries into at 12.30, then informing us later after the result of the vote that all votes cast before 6.00pm don't count for jack.  Quality.

(Anyone would think Wellsaint's having a bad week... - Eds.)


Gloucester v Newcastle

Home advantage should give Gloucester the edge in this game and I predict a Gloucester win by nine points.



London Irish v Bath

Bath seemed to take their time in getting to grips with Bourgoin last week whilst Irish had an easy runout against weak Italian opposition. This may be a tight affair but I take Bath to come away with the victory by five points.