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The Aviva Premiership hits its mid-point of the season this weekend. Defending champions Exeter are assured the top spot with an eight point gap above second place Gloucester, and with the Chiefs at despondent Northampton this week there’s no reason to think they won’t be just as far if not further come Sunday.
A match between the two bottom-ranked sides on the table started things off on Friday evening and it wasn’t a good result for London Irish. Joe Taufete’e came on as a replacement hooker for Worcester who took the 23-8 result to push a full 10 points ahead of the Exiles and mark them as overwhelming favorites for the drop. Unless persistent rumors of Premiership ring-fencing come to fruition it could be curtains for the Irish already.
Newcastle are at home to Harlequins on Saturday and once again Americas fans are let down with only one of the seven Americas players on their books named in the lineup. Juan Pablo Socino starts at his usual inside centre spot and the rest are left to wonder when their chance will come.
The most notable selection this week is that of Lucas Noguera Paz, who makes his Premiership debut for Bath against Sale and will do so from the kickoff wearing the No 1 jersey. AJ MacGinty is recalled to start for the Sharks at flyhalf.
Sunday will see four Americas players on show at Welford Road, two Eagles and two Pumas. Chris Baumann is on the bench for home side Leicester while Juan Figallo starts at tighthead for visiting Saracens with Chris Wyles on the wing and Marcelo Bosch in the midfield.
