Rugby Union: Aviva Premiership 2011/12 Round 18 Predictions

In the first of a new regular feature, our rugby columnist Jeff Ball makes his predictions for this weekend€™s round of matches. Let us know your predictions either in the comments below or on Twitter @Ballintouch If you hadn€™t noticed by yet, here at Ball In Touch towers we love rugby. As much as Frank loves his carpets and non-skinny children love baked goods. Those of you that follow our Twitter @Ballintouch (please do by the way if you don€™t already) will know we have been trying our hand at predictions through the Six Nations. Following that trial run in which we beat many a professional pundit (we€™re looking at you Guscott, not your scarf) we have decided to take it to the masses of whatculture.com. We would love to hear your predictions too. Glory and bonus points are on offer to those who get it right more than anyone, and who doesn€™t love a bit of glory on the weekend? Sale Sharks v Saracens Sale are a hard side to beat at home, with a good record this season at Edgely Park and will still be hurting from when Saracens put 50 points past them last year. Saracens welcome back most of their Six Nations players and have lost two of their last three games in the Premiership, only beating Saints last time out. Title-hunting Saracens will be hoping to prove this drop in form is only a blip and they could just squeeze another win from this one, but will probably have to outscore Sale rather than aimply try and close close them out. Prediction: Saracens by less than 7 pointsWorcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons This year€™s should be relegation contenders take on the actual contenders. Worcester€™s defence rather than try scoring has sustained them this season, but their form has been mixed, beating Saracens one round and getting thumped by Bath the next. The Falcons are fighting for their lives and are riding a wave of optimism for next season following a lot of investment by the chairman. Peter Stringer makes his debut and could guide the visitors to a crucial and rare away win. Prediction: Falcons by less than 7 pointsGloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs This is the battle for the fifth place Exeter currently occupy as they take on Gloucester who are one position and four points behind the Chiefs. Gloucester are much changed with experience being word of the day, while Exeter stick with the team that beat Sale last time out. Gloucester's counter-attacking style will have to batter through the hard edged forwards-focused play of Exeter, but with Gloucester having got smashed 36-3 by leicester in their last league game, the determination to right that plus the home advantage should see them clear. Prediction: Gloucester by more than 7 pointsHarlequins v Bath Rugby Two teams of contrast. Harlequins are exceeding their expectations while Bath are failing to meet theirs. As a result table toppers Harlequins will fancy their chances against 8th placed Bath. Bath have struggled to score tries away from home whilst Harlequins have been scoring for fun at times when playing at home. With the addition of those involved in the England set up, the Londoners should be too strong for a Bath side who will be keen to stifle the threat 'Quins have out wide. Predicition: Harlequins by more than 7 pointsNorthampton Saints v London Wasps Wasps face one of the hardest trips of round 18, taking on a Saints side complemented by the inclusion of their raft of England internationals in what looks likely to be a sell-out game for Saints. Wasps' scrum has creaked at times this season and will be targetted by a Saints side looking for a top four finish. Wasps are fighting for their Premiership lives still and a loss here coupled with a Falcons win on Friday night will make the gap between them uncomfortably small. A bonus point may be the best they can hope for at Franklin gardens. Prediction: Saints by more than 7 pointsLondon Irish v Leicester Tigers London Irish face the worrying prospect of a strenghtened Leicester side bouyed by last week's LV- Cup Final win. Irish's form has faltered of late compared to the Tigers who are on a strong run. The England contingent's return will only make things harder for a London Irish that is undergoing a bit of a transition and will want to forget about this season, especially if the remain in their current 9th position. However, Irish's attack can be devastating when they get it right and as long as they can hold their own up front they could push Leicester for most of the game. Prediction: Leicester Tigers by less than 7 points