The Gallagher Premiership serves up a feast of festive rugby, with five matches on Boxing Day and the ‘Big Game’ at Twickenham on Monday.
With this being the time of year that teams usually do their business ahead of next term, there are multi-dimensional facets to several fixtures, all of which are sure to add to the drama.
Genge Sub-Plot Headlines Ashton Gate Clash
Leicester may have won 13 in a row in all competitions but the build-up to Sunday’s trip to Bristol has centred on their captain, Ellis Genge.
The loosehead prop is not afraid of doing journalists’ work for them and it feels almost fitting that it has been confirmed in the last fortnight that he will be heading ‘home’ to his first club in the summer, and Sunday’s venue, Ashton Gate.
While the Tigers are roaring, no one can quite pinpoint why Bristol has struggled this season, currently sitting 12th in the table. However, it seems clear that the scars that came from spurning a 28-0 lead in last season’s semi-finals on their way to a 43-36 extra-time defeat to Harlequins are still raw.
Signing Genge to play on the other side of the scrum to Kyle Sinckler is a superb move for the Bears but the rugby world lives in the present and the Tigers’ current ability to get over the line is almost unparalleled.
Steve Borthwick’s side battled their way past both Bordeaux and Connacht in the European fortnight and they are 4/5 for the win. Alternatively, with them chasing 14 in a row, a -1.5 handicap at 50/57 feels pretty generous and should be within their grasp.
Go for Gloucester
The great thing about sport at this time of year is that the fixtures list often throws up some derby action and Gloucester’s trip to Bath is the best of the Boxing Day fare.
With them yet to win domestically this season, Bath have gone early to announce their coaching shake-up for next season with Munster boss Johann van Graan set to swap Thomond Park for the Rec in the summer. Let’s face it, the South African would have been unlikely to take the job in a season where relegation was on the agenda but looks a shrewd appointment.
Opponents Gloucester have seen their squad stretched for various reasons and George Skivington has praised the resilience of his older players. The most notable of these is Billy Twelvetrees, who grabbed a pair of tries in the 35-33 win over Wasps in their last away outing in the Premiership.
That result forms part of an ongoing four-match unbeaten run domestically, which started with a 71-10 win over Bath on November 12.
At 2/5, the Cherry and Whites might prove to be too short for some, but 19/10 on Bath isn’t enough to back them to finally get the W.
Quins Can Dominate at HQ
After a year off, Harlequins’ annual regular-season trip across the road to Twickenham is back on and this season, it is Northampton’s turn for a festive run out at HQ on Monday.
This is the 13th edition of the ‘Big Game’ and neutrals will be hoping for similar to the 2019 renewal, when Quins squandered a 30-20 lead to draw 30-30 with Leicester.
After losing their last Premiership outing, 16-14 against the Tigers, the Premiership champions impressed in Europe, winning 20-18 in Castres before making it a Champions Cup double by picking up a bonus point in last Saturday’s 43-17 win over Cardiff.
In contrast, Saints were smashed 45-14 by an inspired Racing before going down 27-22 at Ulster. However, they sit a point and a place above Monday’s opponents.
That said, Quins are 1/5 for a reason and took Northampton to town last season, winning 49-29 at Franklin’s Gardens before Brett Herron crashed over to seal a 37-19 bonus point success at the Stoop.
Therefore, considering their form over the European fortnight, and having beaten the Saints by an average of 19 points last season, the -10.5 Handicap seems beatable at 50/51.
*All odds correct at time of writing.