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It is semifinal time in England’s Gallagher Premiership this weekend, with the top four facing off for a place in the final
Win and you are off to the Premiership Final at Allianz Stadium on 14 June. Lose and you’re off to the beach while thinking what may have been.
The action begins on Friday night when longtime league leaders Bath face their west country rivals Bristol Bears at the Recreation Ground.
Then on Saturday, Leicester Tigers welcome Sale Sharks to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to complete the dance card.
While Bath have already won the EPCR Challenge Cup and the Premiership Cup this season, they will be aware that of the four matches they have lost, two of them have come home and away against the Bears.
They won’t have far to look to see where the principle threat will come from. Winger Gabriel Ibitoye has scored 13 Premiership tries this season, while Fijian centre Kalaveti Ravouvou has weighed in with 11.
Bath flyhalf Finn Russell can again show he’s a man for the big occasion. The British and Irish Lions tourist has scored 156 points and assisted 12 tries.
He’ll be facing a wily character in Bristol pivot AJ MacGinty, the Irish-born USA international. The 35-year-old has set up 10 tries, while his halfback partner Harry Randall has assisted 13.
Bristol will need to be at their best defensively against Bath, who have made a league-high 240 entries to the 22 this season, with 59% of their entries resulting in a try or penalty.
The Bears will look to club captain Fitz Harding to lead the way. The flanker has made a league best 264 tackles this year.
It is a winner takes all clash in the East Midlands after each team won at home when the sides met this season.
Tigers hooker Julian Montoya is playing his final match at Welford Road, and the Argentine’s relationship with second row Hanro Liebenberg has been vital for Leicester’s platform this season.
Montoya has made 164 successful lineout throws, the third best in the Premiership this season, while the South African has won 91 of his own throws.
In attack Freddie Steward will aim to show England boss Steve Borthwick that he is returning to his best.
The fullback has made the most metres for Leicester with 1035, and he has beaten the most defenders with 51.
Steward, 24, has also scored seven Premiership tries, making him part of a back three that has scored 28 tries, alongside Ollie Hassell-Collins' 13 and Adam Radwan's eight.
To keep them out, Sale’s defence will look to flanker Ernst van Rhyn. The South African has made 20 dominant tackles this season – more than any other player.
Van Rhyn’s compatriot Rob du Preez is the Shark’s Mr Reliable. Whether at flyhalf or in the centre, he has played every minute for Alex Sanderson’s side, and he scored three conversions when Sale beat Leicester 39-25 in December.
