Aviva Premiership Weekend Preview
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Bristol Rugby v Harlequins (Ashton Gate, 7.45pm)
Referee: Matthew Carley (54th Premiership game).
Bristol Rugby have win nine more points in their last three games. Bristol won 28-20 in their most recent game at Ashton Gate in the competition but have not won two in a row at home in Premiership Rugby since 2007-08.
Harlequins have won their last seven encounters with Bristol in Premiership Rugby since their 20-33 reversal at Memorial Stadium in October 2006, although Bristol did win both fixtures in the European Cup played in December 2007.
Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints (Recreation Ground, 7.45pm) Live on BT Sport
Referee: Wayne Barnes (177th Premiership game).
Northampton Saints have won their last three Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures since their 11-19 defeat against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on 3 December.
Bath beat Northampton 18-14 at Franklin’s Gardens in round one this season to end a ten game winless run against the Saints in all competitions.
Bath have only once before recorded a Premiership Rugby season double over Northampton, doing so in 1999-2000. The Saints are unbeaten on their last five visits to the Recreation Ground.
Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons (AJ Bell Stadium, 8.15pm)
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (28th Premiership game).
The Sharks most recent victory in the competition was on a visit to Bristol on 30 October, whilst their most recent home win in the tournament came against Leicester in round five.
Newcastle Falcons have picked up 15 league points from their last five fixtures in Aviva Premiership Rugby, recording victories at Northampton and at home to Harlequins and Bath, with the two reversals in that time being against to the top two in the table: Wasps and Saracens.
Saturday 11 February
Leicester Tigers v Gloucester Rugby (Welford Road, 3pm)
Referee: Ian Tempest (28th Premiership game).
Gloucester Rugby beat Worcester Warriors 55-19 at Kingsholm in round 13 – their highest total in the competition since 2011. Gloucester’s only away victory in Premiership Rugby this season came at Sale in round three, although they have obtained two draws - at Worcester in round two and at Exeter in round six.
Leicester’s only defeat to Gloucester in their last eight encounters was 16-33 at Kingsholm in October 2014 whilst Gloucester’s most recent success at Welford Road was 30-17 on 6 October 2007.
Worcester Warriors v Saracens (Sixways, 3pm)
Referee: Tom Foley (30th Premiership game).
Saracens have lost just one of their last nine Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures: 11-14 at Bath in round 10. Saracens have conceded only ten tries in the 13 rounds so far, but surprisingly have not achieved a try bonus point themselves since their victory over Wasps in round 6.
Saracens have won their last seven encounters with Worcester in all competitions since the Warriors 12-3 victory at Sixways in Premiership Rugby in November 2012.
Sunday 12 February
Exeter Chiefs v Wasps (Sandy Park, 1pm) Live on BT Sport
Referee: Greg Garner (109th Premiership game).
Exeter Chiefs only defeat in the last eight rounds of Aviva Premiership Rugby was 10-13 at home to Bath at the end of October. The Chiefs are the best side in the competition on current form having tallied 25 league points from their last six matches.
Wasps have won their last five Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures since their 18-36 defeat at Gloucester in round 8. Premiership Rugby’s top try-scoring side with 51 have run in ten more tries than their nearest rivals this campaign.