Filed under: Rugby Union, Premiership, England Rugby
With three rounds to go, some teams - Leicester, Leeds and Sale, for instance - would love for the season to end right away. But for others like London Irish and Newcastle, there is still much to fight for. If games go according to the form book, Newcastle should be worried and Saracens may end up celebrating by the end of the weekend. But as we have seen in the last couple of rounds, things aren't usually that simple.MATCH OF THE WEEKEND:
Newcastle v Northampton, Kingston Park, 15/04. Kick-off 1945 BST
Just what you need after slumping to the bottom of the table - a visit from the only English representative in the Heineken Cup semi-finals. Falcons have had a busy week. Apart from cancelling the fans' forum scheduled for Thursday due to "unforeseen circumstances", they had a visit from mixed martial arts fighter Ross Pearson. And they will need all their fighting qualities to win their battle against relegation. For free-scoring Saints this is the first of three away games in just over a week and they will be looking to maintain their top four spot.
Key man: James Fitzpatrick (Newcastle)
Key stat: Saints have won their last four games; Newcastle have lost their last three.
Key quote: "[Relegation] is something different, and it definitely puts added pressure on. If you were in this position in the Magners League then you would start thinking about building for next year, but we don't have that luxury because we are fighting for our lives until the very end of the season." Newcastle and Scotland No.8 Ally Hogg, who spent ten years playing for Edinburgh.
BEST OF THE REST:
Exeter v Saracens, Sandy Park, 16/04. Kick-off 1500 BST
This game is all about whether Saracens can maintain the pressure on Leicester at the top of the table, as Exeter are safe - unless they are handed a points deduction for fielding an ineligible player earlier this month - and unlikely to trouble the contenders for European qualification. Sarries, who have just returned from a training camp in Miami, head to Devon on the back of an eight-game winning run and without conceding a try in their last two.
Key man: David Strettle (Saracens)
Key stat: Exeter have won four of their last five home matches.
Key quote: "We've made a mistake and we've now just got to get on with things." Exeter chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter on the administrative error over the signing of Fijian-born Nemani Nadolo, who was signed on an Australian passport, breaking RFU limits on players outside Europe and the Pacific Islands.
Leicester v Gloucester, Welford Road, 16/04. Kick-off 1500 BST
This could get ugly, as two of the league's powerhouses face off. Leicester have won all but one of their last 12 Premiership games, but have lost two of their last three at home in all competitions. And then there was the loss to Leinster in Dublin last week which ended their Heineken Cup hopes. Gloucester, meanwhile have a decidedly iffy away form, having lost four of their last six on the road.
Key man: Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester)
Key stat: Gloucester have won two of their last three games against Leicester.
Key quote: "If we play like we did against Leinster on Saturday against Gloucester we will win and we know we can play with that intensity. It's one thing saying it and another doing it. It's important that we re-group. We have a tough run-in to the league season but we are in a good position." Tigers hooker George Chuter.
Sale v London Irish, Reebok Stadium, 16/04. Kick-off 1730 BST
The Exiles have put their mid-season slump well behind them and have eyes on getting back into the top four. They sit five points off the play-off places, but fourth-placed Northampton have a game in hand. Sale, who conceded four tries to the Exiles in the reverse fixture earlier this season, may be ten points clear of last place, but will be keen for a win to guarantee survival.
Key man: Ryan Lamb (London Irish)
Key stat: Sale have won their last two home games.
Key quote: "The club's a happy place and you can see that in the performances now. It's back to they way we were playing at the beginning of the season. Everybody has got a smile on their faces, things are going well for us." London Irish winger Topsy Ojo.
Wasps v Leeds Carnegie, Adams Park, 17/04. Kick-off 1500 BST
Leeds head south having won their first away game this season, which lifted them off the bottom of the league. And they face a Wasps side in dismal form, having had their last hope of silverware go in the shape of the Amlin Challenge Cup defeat to Harlequins. They face a battle to stay in European contention, but Leeds will not want to relinquish 11th spot in a hurry.
Key man: Adrian Jarvis (Leeds)
Key stat: Wasps have lost all but one of their last nine games.
Key quote: "Eighth place won't be enough to qualify for Europe. We phoned Premier Rugby and they said no. Seventh is it. Even if an English team win the Heineken Cup, it's still seventh." Wasps director of rugby Leon Holden.
DON'T WAIT UP FOR:
Bath v Harlequins, Recreation Ground, 16/04. Kick-off 1415 BST
This has meaningless end-of-season fixture written all over it. Both teams have mathematical chances of getting into the top four, but with Quins eight points shy with three games left -with an Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final to concentrate on - and Bath a point further back, it would be fair to say that they are already planning for next season.
Key man: Nick Easter (Harlequins)
Key stat: Harlequins last won away in the league on New Year's Day
Key quote: "You can see from where we are in the league that we have done some good things and some not-so-good things. Obviously, we are working hard to cut those errors out, which will make us a tougher side to beat." Bath lock Peter Short.
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