The forthcoming weekend spells the end of Aviva Premiership action for two weeks, with most eyes turning to the resumption of the Six Nations. However, there is more on offer. The loyal club rugby fan knows that the LV= Cup semi-finals and final are also taking place over the next fortnight. Leicester Tigers and Saracens amassed 14 and 10 tries respectively to top their groups and earn the home semi-final berths. Opposing them will be defending champions, Exeter, and Northampton Saints.
With all four sides missing internationals and likely to rest some first-team players after a busy four weeks in the Premiership, it will be an opportunity for the youngsters to impress under a brighter spotlight, as they seek to attract the attention of their coaches and claim some prestigious silverware.
LV= Cup Semi Final Weekend
Saracens vs. Northampton Saints, Allianz Park, Saturday 14th April, KO: 12.30, Sky Sports 3
A fixture which has already summoned up a few thrillers in recent times is not likely to disappoint at Saturday lunchtime. The perfect Six Nations warm-up, you might say.
Although Allianz Park is the home of Saracens, the Saints have a 100 percent record there, and are favourites to progress to the final. They will see this season as a realistic chance for the domestic double, and with the final at Franklin’s Gardens, it is undeniably a fantastic opportunity to achieve this. Furthermore, as their Premiership cushion is so hefty at the top of the table, they may not see the need to rest some of their more experienced players, and so they will certainly be a dangerous side.
They should stick with their Cup captain, Phil Dowson, and some other old heads, such as Sam Dickinson, Kahn Fotuali’I, and Dominic Waldouck will come in. Young winger/full-back, Tom Collins, is a player to watch and will add an element of unpredictability to the Saints’ backline.
Saracens, however, will be buoyed by recent strong form in both the league, Europe and the LV= Cup. They have won six of their last eight games in all competitions, most notably wins away to Wasps and a big win over Exeter at home in the final group stage game of the LV= Cup. Saracens’ danger men come in the form of excellent young lock Maro Itoje, prop, Rhys Gill, American winger, Chris Wyles and 21 year-old flanker, Matt Hankin. Their home record is generally exceptional, having thwarted teams such as Clermont Auvergne and Munster earlier in the season.
Prediction: Northampton by fewer than ten points.
Leicester Tigers vs. Exeter Chiefs, Welford Road, Sunday 15th April, KO: 13.00, Sky Sports 3
The Tigers’s win ratio of knockout matches at Welford Road represents a challenge for Exeter not too dissimilar from a climber attempting to scale a never-ending concave brick wall. Leicester have lost just one knockout match at Welford Road in the professional era, an astounding record. For Leicester, the LV= Cup is a very realistic chance of a trophy; and one that the Tigers will be desperate to win, in a less-than scintillating season thus far.
In the backs, it appears that Tommy Bell will make his first start at fly-half, while promising, dynamic, and strong centre Jack Roberts will resume his form of the earlier rounds of the tournament. Fraser Balmain will likely pack-down alongside Italian international Michele Rizzo and England U20 hooker Harry Thacker in the front row, an area where, as usual, Leicester will seek to gain dominance.
On the flip side, although they want to defend their title, the Chiefs’ backs coach, Ali Hepher, spoke to ESPN Scrum this week:
“We will now shift our attention to Saturday’s LV= Cup semi-final at Leicester as we are defending champions. It is going to be a tough ask going up to Welford Road but we have won there in the past – but the priority is the Premiership.”
Evidently, Exeter are focusing on claiming a top four play-off spot in the league, however, key players such as Welsh international, Keri Sweeney, England flanker, Tom Johnson, and bulldozing winger Fetu’u Vainikolo will ensure that it won’t be a straightforward task for Leicester on their home patch on Mothering Sunday.
Prediction: Leicester by between ten and twenty points.
LV=Breakthrough Player of the Year Award
The voting for LV= Cup Breakthrough player of the year is underway. The award has been won in the past by Jonny May, Jack Nowell and Ollie Devoto, among others. You can vote at: https://atheart.lv.com/lv-cup-breakthrough-player-award-voting.
