A
An Tarbh
Guest
So last day of league fixtures on Saturday yet plenty of permutations remaining to be sorted.
Only Leicester are guaranteed to be in the playoffs but will have a home draw regardless of their result against Bristol at the Walkers Stadium.
Quins look more vulnerable than they would have done prior to their HEC quarter final when that win away at Bath looked to have them well set for at least a playoff place and possibly topping the final league standings but with Newcastle's resurgence in form it may be a nervy day for Quins as they look for the result to guarantee them a home draw in the playoffs.
For that to happen they need to better both Bath and London Irish's results although you'd still expect all 3 sides to get the win meaning it'll come down to bonus points with Quins having the edge due to their number of wins.
For Gloucester and Sale they still have a chance of getting through to the playoffs but Sale would need a massive win home to Northampton with the sides above them all losing.
The task for Gloucester also looks a lost cause given that they're away to Wasps and their form in recent games has been woeful plus even against this current Wasps side, Adams Park is not a place you want to go looking for a bp win with a fragile mindset. Luckily for them they're guaranteed HEC rugby next season.
Finally there's the battle for 7th place and that possible last HEC spot depending on who wins the Challenge Cup. For 7th spot you'd say advantage Wasps what with them having the mentally weak Gloucester while Sale will certainly have a point to prove having had that point deducted during the week.
Wasps will have to wait though till the end of the season as even if they finish in 7th they'll need Bourgoin to win the Challenge Cup otherwise it'll be whichever side out of Northampton/Worcester/Saracens to get the final HEC spot.
So how do you see it going?
Only Leicester are guaranteed to be in the playoffs but will have a home draw regardless of their result against Bristol at the Walkers Stadium.
Quins look more vulnerable than they would have done prior to their HEC quarter final when that win away at Bath looked to have them well set for at least a playoff place and possibly topping the final league standings but with Newcastle's resurgence in form it may be a nervy day for Quins as they look for the result to guarantee them a home draw in the playoffs.
For that to happen they need to better both Bath and London Irish's results although you'd still expect all 3 sides to get the win meaning it'll come down to bonus points with Quins having the edge due to their number of wins.
For Gloucester and Sale they still have a chance of getting through to the playoffs but Sale would need a massive win home to Northampton with the sides above them all losing.
The task for Gloucester also looks a lost cause given that they're away to Wasps and their form in recent games has been woeful plus even against this current Wasps side, Adams Park is not a place you want to go looking for a bp win with a fragile mindset. Luckily for them they're guaranteed HEC rugby next season.
Finally there's the battle for 7th place and that possible last HEC spot depending on who wins the Challenge Cup. For 7th spot you'd say advantage Wasps what with them having the mentally weak Gloucester while Sale will certainly have a point to prove having had that point deducted during the week.
Wasps will have to wait though till the end of the season as even if they finish in 7th they'll need Bourgoin to win the Challenge Cup otherwise it'll be whichever side out of Northampton/Worcester/Saracens to get the final HEC spot.
So how do you see it going?
