After last night, I’m wondering whether losing in the Challenge Cup will dent Worcester’s survival bid?
Another win to follow their win over Bristol would have given them some real momentum, but a defeat could be a real sucker-punch considering they played very close to a first choice lineup (minus Singleton, Adams and Hill).
You could argue that a semi-final could have become a distraction from the relegation scrap, but I don’t think there’s any doubt they were going out to win last night.
Wasps' win was essential. Some write ups are saying the fans weren't worried but we really were! Had we lost I think we might have been relegated. As it stands, we're 13 points clear of Falcons with 4 to play now
As you were except for Bristol's bonus point (how much will that lost bonus point come back to haunt Newcastle).
Next weekend will be huge for Tigers...get nothing and Wuss win as well (which I can see and I will be there) then it's going to look very interesting (unless you are a Tigers supporter)
Brizzle 37
Wuss 36
Tigers 34
Budgies 33
Then it's down to who has the bottle in the last three games....Bristol should be safe....but I think it will come down to bonus points....
The big question is....can Tigers dig deep in a relegation scrap....Wuss and Newcastle have both been here before...
You could say their destiny is in their own hands as they play budgies and tigers...... so win one of those and yeah....but it's been a strange season so it could come down to the last game....and then all eyes could be on brizzle Vs budgies.....
Tigger wrote:
..but it's been a strange season so it could come down to the last game....and then all eyes could be on brizzle Vs budgies.....
I'm certain Bris would lose if that was the case. Bristol really need to not be in that situation as we've never done well in a critical match (witness this season vs Worcester).
Deano's right - it'll be a last day decider.
Tigers crucial win leads into an easier run-in than the others.Great BP win by Wuss today gives them a sniff.
It could be a last day decider, but 7 points is a lot for Newcastle to make up in 3 games. They effectively need 2 wins with Worcester or Bristol failing to pick up any points at all.
It's Newcastle for sure - not beating Leicester on their home turf was all but the final nail in the coffin. Worcester winning convincingly today has just made it harder.
hugh_woatmeigh wrote:It's Newcastle for sure - not beating Leicester on their home turf was all but the final nail in the coffin. Worcester winning convincingly today has just made it harder.
With Bristol pulling off an unexpected win over Saracens too, it would take a bit of a miracle for Falcons to survive.
As much as I was pleased to see Newcastle do so well last season, I think it’s fair to say they’ve been the worst side in the league this time out.
Bristol and Worcester have played far better, more attractive and more ambitious rugby and deserve credit for sticking to that rather than playing the safety-first/up the jumper rugby a lot of teams revert to in a relegation fight.
I looked back at our Premiership predictions and not one of us put Newcastle down for relegation. I think Timbo put them in 11th, but their average position in our predicted tables was 6th or 7th.
I see Bristol and Tigers all winning one more game at least. Worcester will probably be playing a second-choice Sarries team too on the last day of the season, so could take that one.
Falcons might beat Saints at home, who while improving are not invulnerable, and will probably beat Bristol on the last day of the season. But will they beat Glos at Kingsholm, with them riding high? Would take a monumental effort.
