After an enthralling fortnight of European rugby that showcased exceptional performances by English clubs, the Gallagher Premiership roars back into action.
Round nine promises gripping encounters, headlined by a showdown between last season’s finalists, Sale and Saracens at the AJ Bell Stadium. Additionally, Newcastle seek their elusive first win against Bristol, while Exeter and Leicester fresh off outstanding results in Europe clash at Sandy Park.
As the Premiership nears its halfway mark, a mere seven-point gap separates the top seven teams and the importance of every match is heightened.
Sides playing at home for the final time in 2023 will be looking to provide their fans with some festive cheer, whilst the visitors will be looking to spoil the Christmas party.
Matthew Luddington provides insights into this week’s fixtures.
Sale Sharks vs Saracens – Friday 22 December (7:45 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Amidst criticism for resting key players in their defeat to Leinster, Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson is targeting a pivotal win against reigning champions Saracens to vindicate his decision. With returning stalwarts captain Ben Curry, George Ford, and Manu Tuilagi bolstering their line-up, table toppers Sale are looking for a huge psychological victory over the reigning champions.
Mark McCall’s Saracens have been inconsistent this season, and start the clash at the AJ Bell in the rare position of underdogs. 21-year-old centre Olly Hartley scored twice against Connacht last week and is rewarded with another start in a Saracens lineup packed with international stars. This promises to be an enthralling and physically bruising encounter between the two finalists of last season’s Premiership.
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Mau Tuilagi, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Ross Harrison, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez
Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam James, 23. Sam Bedlow.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ivan van Zyl; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Alec Carey, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Theo McFarland, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Andy Christie, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Tom West, 18 Logovi’i Mulipola, 19 Hugh Tizard, 20 Toby Knight, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Manu Vunipola, 23 Tom Parton
Newcastle Falcons vs Bristol Bears – Friday 22 December (7:45 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Newcastle Falcons, still waiting for their maiden Premiership victory this season, confront Bristol Bears at Kingston Park in a Friday Night Lights clash. The Falcons have lost their last ten fixtures in all competitions, but are boosted by the return of Argentine winger Mateo Carreras to inject some festive magic and also field nine academy talents in their starting line-up.
Bristol have shown glimpses of brilliance this year, and racked up 51 points against Gloucester in their last Premiership match, but have been plagued by inconsistency.
Both sides are short of confidence and are in desperate need of victory here.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Tom Penny, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Oliver Spencer, 12 Jordan Holgate, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Louie Johnson, 9 James Elliott; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 John Hawkins, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Sam Cross, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Callum Chick (c).
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 George Wacokecoke.
Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins ,14 Gabriel Ibitoye, 13 Virimi Vakatawa , 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Rich Lane, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall, 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 James Dun, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 8 Magnus Bradbury
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 George Kloska, 19 Josh Caulfield , 20 Dan Thomas , 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 James Williams, 23 Noah Heward
Exeter Chiefs vs Leicester Tigers – Saturday 23 December (3:00 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Exeter Chiefs are riding high following remarkable come-from-behind triumphs against European giants Toulon and Munster, and have the opportunity to go unbeaten at home in 2023 if they avoid defeat to Leicester Tigers.
The Chiefs’ last home defeat in any competition was in October 2022, and they have turned Sandy Park into a true fortress. Ollie Devoto and Rory O’Loughlin both start in the only changes from the side that toppled Munster last week.
Following a famous victory in Paris, Tigers have injected Freddie Steward, Handré Pollard, captain Julián Montoya, Dan Cole, Ollie Chessum and Jasper Wiese back into their starting side. Tigers have won their last five games in all competitions, and are displaying the dominant physical rugby that took them to the title in 2022.
Fans should anticipate a gripping physical battle at Sandy Park that could go down to the wire.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Tommy Wyatt , 14 Rory O’Loughlin, 13 Henry Slade , 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Ehren Painter, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5 Lewis Pearson, 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Zack Wimbush
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Josh Bassett 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 James Whitcombe, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 3 Dan Cole, 4 George Martin, 5 Harry Wells, 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Emeka Ilione, 8 Jasper Wiese
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobold-Thomas, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Olly Cracknell, 20 Kyle Hatherell, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Mike Brown
Gloucester vs Northampton Saints – Saturday 23 December (3:00 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Gloucester secured a huge victory against Clermont last Friday in The Challenge Cup, and seek to translate their momentum into the Gallagher Premiership starting with the visit of Northampton Saints. Santiago Carreras switches to full-back with Adam Hastings coming in at fly-half, and Ruan Ackermann comes in at blindside flanker.
The Saints have enjoyed a remarkable December with victories against Saracens, Glasgow and Toulon, and have won seven of their last game games in all competitions. Phil Dowson makes several changes for the trip to Kingsholm with Rory Hutchinson and Fraser Dingwall returning in the midfield, Tom Litchfield starting on the wing for the first time in his club career, and tighthead prop Paul Hill given the nod.
The Saints are one of the best attacking sides in the league, but must be wary of a dangerous Gloucester side back by a passionate crowd in festive spirit in their final home game of the year.
Gloucester: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Harry Elrington, 2 Santi Socino, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Freddie Clarke, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 8 Zach Mercer.
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Jack Clement, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Seb Atkinson, 23 Lloyd Evans
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank (c) 14 Tom Litchfield 13 Fraser Dingwall 12 Rory Hutchinson 11 Tommy Freeman 10 Fin Smith 9 Alex Mitchell 1 Ethan Waller 2 Curtis Langdon 3 Paul Hill 4 Temo Mayanavanua 5 Alex Coles 6 Courtney Lawes 7 Tom Pearson 8 Sam Graham
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi 17 Tarek Haffar 18 Elliot Millar Mills 19 Chunya Munga 20 Juarno Augustus 21 Callum Braley 22 Charlie Savala 23 Jake Garside
Bath Rugby vs Harlequins – Saturday 23 December (3:05 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Bath are full of confidence, after marking their return to the Champions Cup with two bonus-point victories against Ulster and Cardiff. Johan Van Graan’s side lock horns with Harlequins in a clash between two of the best attacking teams in The Premiership. Bath make five changes to his side that came from behind to win against Cardiff, with Neil Annett, Elliot Stooke, GJ Van Velve coming into the pack, and Max Ojomah and Matt Gallagher starting in the backs.
Harlequins recorded a famous victory in Paris against Racing92, but were taught a rugby lesson at the Stoop last week by Toulouse, and make two changes to their side, with Louis Lynagh returning on the wing and Stephen Lewies starting in the second-row. Fly-halves Marcus Smith and Finn Russell face off in what could give fans a taste of the upcoming Six Nations clash between England and Scotland. Whichever talismanic playmaker has more influence on the game will likely steer their side to victory.
Bath: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 1 Beno Obano, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Elliott Stooke, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 GJ van Velze, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Alfie Barbeary
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Cameron Redpath
Harlequins: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Will Collier, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Stephan Lewies, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 James Chisholm, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 9 Danny Care, 10 Marcus Smith, 11 Louis Lynagh, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Will Joseph, 14 Nic David, 15 Tyrone Green
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Irne Herbst, 20 George Hammond, 21 Will Evans, 22 Will Porter, 23 Oscar Beard
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