Worcester shared in an 81 point, nine try thriller at Sixways last week but ultimately still came up pointless in a 33-48 loss to leaders Sale. The Warriors have not won away from home in the Premiership since a 22-21 victory against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on 26 November.

Worcester beat Leicester for the first time (15-11) when the two sides met in the Guinness Premiership at Sixways on 4 November, although the Tigers won (42-16) when the Warriors visited Welford Road in the Powergen Cup on 8 October.

Sale Sharks v Leeds Tykes

Sale are unbeaten in their last five encounters in the Guinness Premiership since losing 14-22 at Bristol on 27 November. The Sharks have reeled off 13 successive victories in all competitions at Edgeley Park since losing there 25-27 to London Wasps on 25 March 2005.

Leeds secured a vital 26-16 win at home to Bristol last Friday evening, but the Tykes’ only away win in the Premiership this season was 16-12 at Bath on 25 November.

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Leeds have never beaten Sale in a dozen previous encounters in all competitions with the closest result being a 29-all draw in the Premiership at Headingley on 20 September 2002. The two teams have already met twice this season with Sale victorious 45-10 in the Powergen Cup at Stockport on 7 October, and again 17-11 in the Guinness Premiership at Headingley the following month.

Bath Rugby v London Irish

Bath secured their second fastest bonus point of all time during the 34-29 victory over Saracens at Vicarage Road on Sunday, Alex Crockett crashing over in just 31 minutes to record Bath’s 4th try of the afternoon.

London Irish slipped up 6-9 at home to Newcastle on the same day in the Exiles’ first compeletly tryless match since 6 February 2005, also at Reading in an identical loss to Sale. Away from home London Irish have lost just one of their last seven games in all competitions: 3-35 at Leicester in the Premiership on 25 November.

London Irish are going for their first league “double” over Bath in the same season having beaten them 36-13 at Madejski Stadium on 5 November. The Exiles have never won in 11 previous visits to the Rec for a league match, but have knocked their hosts out of the cup at the venue on two separate occasions.

Northampton Saints v Saracens

Northampton are unbeaten in their last four matches in the Guinness Premiership following the 19- all draw against London Wasps at High Wycombe on Sunday. The Saints have won their last four games at Franklin’s Gardens in all competitions since Worcester won there 22-21 in the Premiership on 26 November.

Saracens recorded their 4th losing bonus point in their last five encounters in the Premiership, and for the third time this season tallied a try bonus point in a game but still lost the match, during the 29-34 home defeat to Bath on Sunday.

Saracens have won the last three matches they have played against Northampton including a 28-22 victory at Vicarage Road in the Premiership on 5 November.

Kris Chesney has made 149 appearances in the Premiership (145 for Saracens and 4 for Bristol).

Bristol Rugby v London Wasps
Bristol are still to record a victory in any competition in 2006 with their last win being 15-3 over Leicester at Memorial Stadium on 27 December. Bristol’s 23-26 loss to Worcester at Memorial Stadium on 27 January ended a three match home winning run in the Guinness Premiership.

London Wasps’ only win in their last four matches in all competitions was 53-17 at home to Edinburgh in the European Cup on 21 January, whilst away from home their only victory since November was 35-19 over London Irish on New Year’s Eve.

Bristol’s last victory over Wasps was 43-22 at Memorial Stadium on 21 October 2001, whilst Wasps won 21-16 when the two sides met at Causeway Stadium in the Premiership on 4 November.

Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby

Newcastle have suffered just one defeat in their last 11 matches in all competitions since November: 6-21 at Wasps in the Guinness Premiership on 8 January. At Kingston Park the Falcons have won their last five games since losing 20-23 to London Irish there on 11 November.

Gloucester have now won five of their last six matches in all competitions following their 34-16 victory over Leicester at Kingsholm on Friday night. Gloucester have won their last two away games; at Saracens in the Premiership and at Bucharest in the European Challenge Cup.

Newcastle’s only victory over Gloucester in their last ten encounters in all competitions since November 2001 was 42-22 at Kingston Park in the Premiership on 5 October 2003. Gloucester won 27-20 when the two clashed at Kingsholm on 5 November.
Dave Walder needs just six more points to tally 500 in Premiership rugby.