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WASPS v LEEDS (Saturday, 15.00)
Wasps would have been heartened to see both Bath and Saracens lose last weekend as this makes their effort to make the top four a little easier and Ian McGeechan will want to supplement last weekend's win over Bath with another over Leeds this weekend. The fixtures don't get any easier for Leeds who, despite playing well against Sale last weekend, didn't get anything from their last fixture and now have to come up against a resurgent Wasps outfit that will be looking to improve their Premiership position as soon as possible so they have a chance of making the top four. McGeechan's men have only lost one of their last 10 - and that was a narrow defeat to Harlequins in the Premiership - whilst Leeds have lost their last 12 away games in the league and have not won on the road since 2005. Wasps have never lost a game against Leeds in the Premiership and the closest the Yorkshire side got was a draw with them at Adams Park back in 2002. Wasps cannot lose this game if they've got any sort of ambition of reaching the Premiership knockout stages and although Leeds should fight hard, the Wycombe-based outfit should win this by at least 10 points or more. A bonus point will be Leeds' target for this game but their weakish pack should be no match for Wasps' and they could struggle to get the ball.
Verdict: Wasps by fifteen.
HARLEQUINS v LEICESTER (Sunday, 13.15)
Although this is a game that Leicester will have targeted as one of their potential away victories this season, they are no good things to overcome Harlequins who, despite suffering a lull in form during the Heineken Cup this season, have generally performed well this season and gained another victory last weekend when they beat Worcester at Sixways, which ended a 10-run winless streak. Leicester have had a mixed season by their own high standards and not only are they potentially going to be knocked out of the Heineken Cup at the pool stages but they are also no good things to qualify for the knockout stages of the Premiership. They weren't convincing in their defeat of London Irish last weekend and Marcelo Loffreda needs to get his side together sooner rather than later if they are to make sure of a top four spot. Quins can thank their high league position to the fact that they have picked up at least a point in every one of their last 15 league games and it is this consistency that could make them an outside bet to reach the playoffs. Leicester will understandably be favourites for this game but I might be a cheeky backer of Quins getting six points from their rivals here. It wouldn't be a five-star bet, but I think that Quins can push the Tigers very close here.
Verdict: Leicester by three.
BRISTOL v SARACENS (Sunday, 15.00)
Sarries were going great guns until last weekend's uncharacteristic blip against Newcastle and now there are question marks over Alan Gaffney's side. We shouldn't write them off after just one match but they really should have beaten the Falcons at home last weekend and we're now left wondering whether the Vicarage Road outfit have what it takes to sustain a challenge for the Premiership title. Bristol have played really well in the Heineken Cup but are winless in the Premiership since October and whilst they are probably safe from relegation, they will need to win a few more games if they want to make sure of Heineken Cup rugby at the Memorial Stadium once more next season. Sarries have only lost one away from home this season (which was a nail-biter against Sale back in October) and - strangely enough - have not lost a game at the Memorial Stadium since 1999. This must be one of the best away records in the league and would have certainly made you look twice at Sarries if it hadn't have been for last weekend's debacle. However, I'm not going to write Saracens off just yet and maybe last Sunday's result was down to an excess of Christmas pudding. They had previously been in red-hot form and this cannot be forgotten. The layers make this a choice game and that's good enough for me to side with Gaffney's men here as they could easily bounce back from last weekend's horror show.
Verdict: Saracens by six.
LONDON IRISH v SALE (Sunday, 15.00)This is probably the most intriguing contest of the weekend, as you can easily make claims for either side and despite Irish losing last Saturday to Leicester, both sides come into this fixture in good form. The Exiles ultimately lost against the Tigers but they played some good stuff and were very unlucky not to get a losing bonus point. Sale had a wobbly first half an hour against Leeds but got back on top and ran out the convincing winners in the end, getting a try-scoring bonus point in the process. Irish have won their last four at the Madejski Stadium after losing their to Harlequins in the EDF Energy Cup, whilst Sale are the form team in the Premiership at the moment, getting 23 points from their last six matches and winning eight of their last nine in all competitions. This is down to their internationals returning and the introduction of Luke McAlister has done wonders for their backline. Sale could have had another three tries last weekend if the All Black had been playing so team news should be scoured closely as the Sharks are a 10-point better side when he is on the teamsheet. Sale have won on four of their last five visits to the Madejski Stadium and could well make this five if they carry on in the same sort of form that they ended 2007 in. The Exiles won't make it easy, but I expect the Sharks to be on top at the final whistle.
Verdict: Sale by three.
NEWCASTLE v WORCESTER (Sunday, 15.00)
Newcastle's victory against Saracens last weekend will have done them the world of good but has come at completely the wrong time for Worcester, who will want to get something from this game this weekend as they look to put some daylight between themselves and Leeds, who are very unlikely to get anything from their match against Wasps. Previous to their victory over Saracens, Newcastle had lost back-to-back home games at Kingston Park, which would have been noted by Mike Ruddock but last weekend's result will have give the Falcons renewed hope. Worcester's bonus point last Sunday was enough to take them off the foot of the table for the first time since round 4 but the Warriors have not won away since March of last year, when they beat an out-of-sorts Sale side. Fixtures between these two sides have tended to side the way ofthe home team in recent years and the layers agree, making the Falcons the 10-point favourites. Worcester still haven't shown enough to suggest they are ready to win away from home and with Kingston Park being a difficult place as it is to get a win, then Newcastle should be able to get another win under their belts.
Verdict: Newcastle by eight.