The Weekend Preview - Blow outs all over the show

By Brian Dick on Oct 15, 09 03:29 PM in Rugby

Excuse the temporary loss of service folks, illness - namely the most virulent strain of flu known to humankind - prevented me from raising a single digit in the direction of my keyboard last week.

Clearly I would have predicted all the results correctly and trust you have enough faith in my crystal ball gazing ability to grant me a perfect five from five.

No? It's a fair cop.

I honestly expected Worcester to beat Montpellier and Plymouth to leave Moseley with four points and I can't claim with a clear conscience I'd have backed Coventry to win at Doncaster.

A good week to be ill then, you might say.

Let's see what happens this weekend...

Bristol v Moseley (Friday, Memorial Stadium, 7.45pm)

Moseley have been much, much better in the last couple of weeks and the striking thing about their dismissal of Plymouth was the minimum of fuss with which they did it.

There were no last second heroics and no need for a gutsy comeback. They just kicked their goals, stuck to the gameplan and coasted to a third straight victory.

They'll need a little more perspiration and inspiration at Bristol, though.

Paul Hull's side is probably the weakest relegated outfit to enter the second tier for five years, indeed since Bristol last dropped out of the top flight.

By that definition they are the most vulnerable and if Moseley can bean Leeds at Twickenham they can beat a Bristol side that has been given the week off.

But I don't think they will. The hosts will have too much firepower.

Prediction: Bristol by 14

Coventry v Nottingham (Friday, Butts Park Arena, 7.45pm)

It sums up the Championship that Nottingham are second and could go temporarily top with victory at the BPA.

That's not to say they aren't a good side but having seen them twice this season they are not as good as last term and are a long way from being a powerhouse.

Coventry are still some way short of being a good side, though.

Their win at Castle Park owed as much to the old Cov dog as excellence and they'll need plenty of both to beat Nottingham.

The fact they have been laid low by a sickness bug all week is going to weaken their resolve sufficiently to allow the visitors a sixth win of the campaign.

Prediction: Nottingham by 7

Olympus Madrid v Worcester (Saturday, Estadio Nacional de Rugby, 3.45pm)

Even the rawest Worcester side would stroll this match. This Worcester side is as raw as they come and they'll do just that.

Expect Alex Grove to score a hat-trick and Joey Carlisle to kick at least six concerversions.

Not much more to analyse really.

Prediction: Worcester by 50

Bees v Exeter (Saturday, Sharmans Cross Road, 3pm)

The fact you feel compelled to breathe a sigh of relief every time Bees fulfil another fixture rather lowers expectations.

It is very difficult to make a case for anything other than a spirited home performance and an away win so I'll not bother.

Rod Petty will ask uncomfortable questions at fly half and Simon Hunt will put the fear of god into the Chiefs from full back but Bees are going to struggle up front.

They key for Exeter will be to not get sucked into the loose and unstructured game that Bees love.

Prediction: Exeter by 28

Stourbridge v Blaydon (Saturday, Stourton Park, 3pm)

Last week brought a really important victory for Stour and as a result they will be confident of knocking Blaydon over just as they did on the last day of last season.

I think they will too. With Adam Billig and Ben Barkley reunited in the centres and Craig Richards tearing it up out wide Stour will have too sharp a cutting edge for the visitors.

The pack will have to work at it though and if Sam Robinson doesn't kick his goals it could be a dogfight that'll go either way.

Prediction: Stour by 5