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It’s the last weekend of the regular season for the Aviva Premiership while relegation has been wrapped up there might yet be some drama with playoff spots, seedings, and Champions Cup qualification still up for grabs. Any one of Wasps, Exeter Chiefs, or Saracens could end up on top of the table with each within two points of each other in spots 1 through 3. Leicester are odds on to take the fourth playoff seed but Bath have a slim chance to overcome a four-point gap.
European qualification is a little more complicated. The top six teams are into the Champions Cup automatically, while a seventh spot is up for grabs in a two-match playoff series later this month. Bath are safely in and Harlequins currently occupy the sixth spot, but the latter will travel to Franklin’s Gardens to play closest challengers Northampton Saints in a winner-take-all battle that will force the loser in the playoff, or possibly out altogether. Gloucester are also within striking distance just two points below Northampton, and even Newcastle Falcons have an outside shot just two points further down.
All six games take place on Saturday, and all six will have Americas players taking part. Gastón Cortes props up the Bristol scrum at Ashton Gate, with countryman Juan Pablo Socino manning the midfield for visiting Newcastle. Another Argentine, second row Mariano Galarza, starts for Gloucester against the Chiefs, while St. Lucia’s Marland Yarde wings in for Harlequins for the big game at Northampton.
One last Pumas export runs out at center for Saracens in Marcelo Bosch, with two US Eagles joining him in the starting team as Titi Lamositele is named at loosehead prop and Chris Wyles at fullback versus Wasps. Two more USA internationals will start for their respective teams. AJ MacGinty is at flyhalf for Sale when they welcome Bath to AJ Bell Stadium, and Joe Taufete’e retains his hooker spot for Worcester with Leicester Tigers come to town.
