Another of our weekly pre-match updates where we analyse the weekend’s lineups, crunch the stats and see what the bookies are thinking to help you optimise your lineups for peak performance this weekend!
Potential mismatches
As attention returns back to domestic action, for the first time this season we have a round of matches with, in the eyes of the bookies, no obvious mismatches. There are no games that have a handicap greater than 10. All eyes will be on Sixways tonight where Worcester, seemingly rejuvenated by the return of their talisman Francois Hougaard, welcome London Irish for a true relegation face-off. The bookies have given Worcester an 8 point win, and based on current form, it could and should be more.
Elsewhere, Wasps welcome a Gloucester side in hot form (albeit primarily at Kingsholm), and the bookies believe that Wasps, whose backline seems to be returning to full strength, will comfortably dispatch Glaws by 8 points. Newcastle are expected to narrowly squeeze past Quins at home. The Jim Mallinder-less Saints are expected to find the visit of Exeter tough going, while Sale should squeak past Bath at the AJ Bell. Down at Welford Road, the bookies are having trouble separating the Tuilagi-Toomua powered Leicester at home against an out of sorts Saracens. This could go any way!
Top 5 most likely to score (Odds via Paddy Power – 5/6 matches with odds confirmed)
- 1= Charlie Walker (Harlequins) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.9
- 1= Tim Visser (Harlequins) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 1.9
- 3= Jack Nowell (Exeter) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.0
- 3= Henry Slade (Exeter) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.0
- 3= Josh Bassett (Wasps) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.0
- 3= Christian Wade (Wasps) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.0
- 5 Denny Solomona (Sale) – Anytime tryscorer odds: 2.25
Expected to go well
*Players who are starting favourably out of position (i.e. Hooker in back row, Centre on wing, etc.)
Recommended captain pick in bold
FRONT ROW
Ross Harrison (Sale)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Rob Vickers (Newcastle)
John Afoa (Gloucester)
Rob Webber (Sale)
Ethan Waller (Worcester)
Jack Singleton (Worcester)
Jamie George (Saracens)
LOCKS
Bryn Evans (Sale)
Courtney Lawes* (Northampton)
Don Armand* (Exeter)
Callum Green (Newcastle)
Will Spencer (Worcester)
BACK ROW
Jamie Gibson (Northampton)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle)
Blair Cowan (London Irish)
Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter)
Ruan Ackermann (Gloucester)
SCRUM-HALF
Willi Heinz (Gloucester)
Faf de Klerk (Sale)
Francois Hougaard (Worcester)
Ben Spencer (Saracens)
FLY HALF
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
CENTRES
Harry Mallinder* (Northampton)
Chris Harris (Newcastle)
Sam James (Sale)
Jackson Willison (Worcester)
Byron McGuigan* (Sale)
OUTSIDE BACKS
Josh Adams (Worcester)
Olly Woodburn (Exeter)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Chris Pennell (Worcester)
Alex Lewington (London Irish)
Jonny May (Leicester)
Christian Wade (Wasps)
Josh Bassett (Wasps)
Under-the-radar pick
Chris Pennell – For many years a man who has been fantasy gold, a series of unfortunate injuries have hindered his returns in recent years, and with Worcester hitting an up turn in form as well as welcoming the porous London Irish, now seems an excellent time to bring in Pennell. Always guaranteed metres gained and defenders beaten points, Pennell is a man to watch this weekend.
If you want some more sources to help you finalise your decisions, go to our resources page where you’ll find all this year’s Aviva Premiership fantasy games, all the stats sources, injury news, team news, fantasy relevant rugby betting odds and tons of other useful information.
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