Zurich Previews

Sunday 27th March
Leeds Tykes v Leicester Tigers (Headingley, 2.30pm)
Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby (Kingston Park, 3pm)

ROUND 19 PREVIEWS

Sale Sharks v London Wasps

Sale have lost back to back matches at Worcester and at Saracens, but have lost just one of their past seven games at Edgeley Park in all competitions - 23-24 to Bath in the cup quarter final on 21 January.

It's three successive wins and 14 league points for London Wasps. The Londoners are the best travellers in the Premiership along with Leicester, with both clubs gaining an impressive 28 league points from their nine away matches so far.

Sale won 33-30 when the two sides met in the Zurich Premiership in September to end a three match losing run to the Wasps. London Wasps only previous visit to Stockport ended in a 37-33 win in October 2003.

Worcester Warriors v Saracens

Worcester's three match winning run came to a halt last time out at Bath but at Sixways the Warriors have won four in a row and six in their last seven in all competitions.

Saracens only loss in their last five matches was at home to London Irish on 23 January. Away from home Saracens have not lost in the Premiership since 27 November at Leicester.

The two sides have clashed only twice before with Saracens winning on each occasion, both matches were played at Vicarage Road in the fiifth round of the cup in November 2000 and in the Premiership on 12 September 2004.

Northampton Saints v NEC Harlequins

The Saints have secured successive wins against Leicester and Gloucester but even though the 26-11 victory over the Tigers was at Franklin's Gardens, Northampton continue to be the poorest home team in the Premiership along with Leeds, with both teams only securing just 17 home league points in their nine outings so far.

Quins have also managed back to back wins over Bath and Newcastle, with the 17-15 victory at Bath being their first win "on the road" since they visited Sale on 19 November.

Harlequins have not won at Franklin's Gardens since a 26-23 victory on the opening day of Premiership rugby - 23 August 1997. The Londoners only win in their last nine Premiership encounters anywhere with Northampton was at the Stoop in November 2003.

London Irish v Gloucester

The only win for the Irishmen in their last six matches came at Saracens in the Zurich Premiership on 20 February. The Exiles have lost their last three games at Madejski Stadium - they have never lost four in a row at home since moving to Reading in 2000-01.

Gloucester too have struggled of late with just one win in their last five outings - 17-16 over Bath at Kingsholm on 19 February. Gloucester have not won away from home in the Premiership since an 18-13 victory at Worcester on 16 October.

Gloucester won 23-16 when they met London Irish in the Premiership in September but they have beaten The Exiles just once in five previous visits to Madejski Stadium - 40-19 in the Premiership in November 2002.

Leeds Tykes v Leicester Tigers

Leeds have lost four matches in a row in the Zurich Premiership, they have however won three of their last four matches at Headingley.

The Tigers, along with Wasps, are the best travellers in the Premiership, each securing 28 league points from their nine away games so far. Leicester, however have never won in three previous visits to Headingley.

All seven previous Premiership encounters between Leeds and Leicester have been won by the home team on the day - the Tigers winning 42-20 at Welford Road on 11 September.

Andy Goode needs just 19 more points to become only the second player to tally 500 points for Leicester in the Premiership after Tim Stimpson.

Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby

Newcastle are winless in their last three matches, losing at Leicester and Harlequins and drawing 27-all at home to Gloucester. The Falcons are unbeaten at Kingston Park since the Tigers won there in early October.
Bath have won back to back matches at Gloucester in the cup semi-final and at home to Worcester, whilst their only defeat away from home in their last five trips was 16-17 in the Premiership at Gloucester on 19 February.

Bath have the slight edge in previous Premiership clashes with the Falcons, winning 8 matches to Newcastle's seven. Bath have won just once at Kington Park since 2000 - 24-20 in November 2002.