The final weekend of the regular Aviva Premiership season is upon us and never have there been so many variables with only one game to play.
Only 5 teams go into their matches on Saturday knowing what position they will finish the season in and with so much up for grabs in every fixture we predict a dramatic rise in grey hairs and chewed fingernails amongst rugby fans this weekend.
Fixtures:
Bath v Gloucester
Exeter v Sale
Leicester v Northampton
London Irish v Wasps
London Welsh v Saracens
Newcastle v Harlequins
Northampton
Current position 1st. Highest possible finish 1st. Lowest possible finish 1st.
Guaranteed home play-off semi-final regardless of results.
Bath
Current position 2nd. Highest possible finish 2nd. Lowest possible finish 2nd.
Home play-off semi-final regardless of results.
Leicester
Current position 3rd. Highest possible finish 3rd. Lowest possible finish 5th.
The Tigers know that should they beat Northampton on Saturday they will qualify for the play-offs. It is possible that they finish level on points with both Exeter and Saracens but their superior number of victories this season would see them finish higher.
However, should they lose to the champions, who would like nothing more to end Leicester’s season prematurely, and Exeter and Saracens both win then the Tigers will drop out of the top 4 and not compete for the championship for the first time in 10 years.
Exeter
Current position 4th. Highest possible finish 3rd. Lowest possible finish 5th.
All Exeter need to do is match what Saracens do and they will take part in the Premiership play-offs for the first time in their history. The Chiefs occupy 4th going into the final weekend level on points with Sarries, both having won 13 games this season but with Exeter’s points difference better by 3.
They host Sale who beat them earlier in the year 18-11. Saracens however travel to London Welsh who they demolished 78 -7 back in December. Both teams will be going for bonus point wins and will be trying to outscore one and other as well as the opposition.
Alternatively, Northampton do both sides a favour and beat Leicester in which case a win will be enough to see them both qualify.
Saracens
Current position 5th. Highest possible finish 3rd. Lowest possible finish 5th.
As discussed above, match Exeter’s result and improve on their score by 4 points and the Londoners will once again play for the trophy.
Wasps
Current position 6th. Highest possible finish 6th. Lowest possible finish 7th.
Wasps finish off a fantastic season away to London Irish knowing that should they win they will play Champions Cup rugby again next season. However nothing is set in stone just yet.
Should they lose to the Exiles and Sale beat Exeter with a bonus point the Sharks will leapfrog them into the much sought after 6th place. Dai Young will certainly be telling his players to not count their chickens.
Sale
Current position 7th. Highest possible finish 6th. Lowest possible finish 8th.
Sale Sharks enter the final weekend knowing they have more potential than anybody to alter the final standings in the Aviva Premiership.
Should they beat Exeter, not only will they probably deny their opponents a top 4 finish but if other results go their way they could themselves climbing above Wasps and be rubbing shoulders with European rugby royalty next season.
Harlequins
Current position 8th. Highest possible finish 7th. Lowest possible finish 9th.
Quins travel to Newcastle with nothing but pride to play for. Gloucester ensured that finishing 7th in the Premiership is meaningless this season by winning the Challenge Cup so all Harlequins have on the line is their dignity.
Mathematically they can still finish above Sale but it would be under extraordinary circumstances. The Sharks are 5 points ahead and have a 97 point superior points difference so Chris Robshaw and co would have to score four tries and beat Newcastle by 50, hoping that Exeter in turn beat Sale by 48 or more.
Also possible, Newcastle beat Quins and Gloucester triumph in the west country derby meaning Quins finish 9th, something that would be considered completely unacceptable for a squad full of so many internationals.
Gloucester
Current position 9th. Highest possible finish 8th. Lowest possible finish 9th.
It’s been another disappointing domestic season for the cherry and whites, with victory in the Challenge Cup and a potential route to the Champions Cup the only real shining light. Only a fool would think they would be looking ahead to their European play off matches the following weekend and take it easy against Bath at the Rec.
Gloucester will want to finish their season on a high and make sure their bitter rivals go into their play-off campaign battered and bruised.
London Irish
Current position 10th. Highest possible finish 10th. Lowest possible finish 10th.
Guaranteed 10th position regardless of results.
Newcastle
Current position 11th. Highest possible finish 11th. Lowest possible finish 11th.
Guaranteed 11th position regardless of results.
London Welsh
Current position 12th. Highest possible finish 12th. Lowest possible finish 12th.
Guaranteed relegation regardless of results.
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