Premiership Round 16: Best head-to-head matchups of the weekend

After last weekend’s European fixtures, which saw Northampton Saints overcome all odds to beat Leinster and reach the Champions Cup final and Bath overcome Edinburgh to qualify for the Challenge Cup final, the Premiership is back. 

Only three league games are left before the top four are decided and the play-off teams are confirmed. 

Every game is huge for those still fighting for the top four spots, with must-win games across the board. 

Most notably, Leicester Tigers host Sale Sharks in a second v first battle, which will prove massive in deciding the second home semi-finalist. 

Here, Charlie Elliott goes through some of the best individual matchups from this weekend. 

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Handre Pollard v George Ford 

Arguably the biggest game of the weekend comes first, with Tigers hosting Sale at Welford Road in an absolutely massive game in deciding the top four. 

Second hosts third, and the visitors can overtake Tigers with a win. 

It is also huge because Ford returns to the club with which he spent a combined nine years over two stints and is considered one of the biggest legends in recent history. 

Pollard has already confirmed that he is leaving Leicester at the end of the season, but will be motivated to leave the East Midlands with some silverware. 

Pollard and Ford are two of the best fly-halves in the league and are both outstanding operators who are unplayable on their day. 

Dictating play will be the prerogative for both sides, with these two key in making sure that their team stays on top. 

Hanro Liebenberg v Tom Curry 

Two of the in-form flankers in the Premiership will battle it out on Friday, as recent Lions squad addition Tom Curry goes up against South African Liebenberg. 

They are similar in many ways, being workhorses who mix some outstanding defending with some seriously good running with ball in-hand and have been key to the success so far this season. 

Sale’s trademark has been their ability to outwork the opposition, but Liebenberg will look to disrupt that and put an end to Curry’s brilliant form. 

Callum Chick v Ben Earl 

Saracens must recover from a previous loss to Sale Sharks and avoid another upset against Newcastle Falcons to give themselves any kind of top four chance. 

Chick has agreed on terms to sign for Northampton Saints next season, but will want to give the Falcons faithful a proper sendoff after ten years at the club. 

His back row opponent is Ben Earl, the recent Lions call-up who has been outstanding this season. 

Both are great ball carriers who will potentially be battling at the top end of the table next season, so will want to put in a statement during this game. 

They are crucial players for their respective teams, and whoever wins this battle will do their team a world of good. 

Max Lahiff v Francois van Wyk 

Bath have already secured a top finish but will be wanting to spoil the Bristol Bears’ party at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, which will host the big day out. 

Bears are narrowly holding onto fourth place following some poor recent form which has seen them lose three in a row. 

A lot has been made about Bath’s physicality this season, and Lahiff and Bristol will need to front up and win the physical battle to allow their backs to play. 

If they let Johann van Graan’s side dominate them, they will struggle to stamp their attacking mark on the game. 

Lahiff v van Wyk is a tasty battle scrum-wise and will have a huge bearing on how the game goes. 

AJ Macginty v Ciaran Donoghue 

With it being a rotated Bath team that has been put out, it provides yet another opportunity for young fly-half Donoghue, who has stepped up brilliantly after being given a chance in the first team. 

Macginty is vastly more experienced, so it will be interesting to see who comes out better from these two. 

American player Macginty has great game intelligence and creates lots of opportunities for his side to work off. 

Donoghue is faced with a real test here, and should he pass it, will really mark his status as one of the most exciting youngsters in the league. 

Rodrigo Isgro v Christian Wade 

Harlequins are out of the running for the top four but host a Gloucester side desperate for a win and sitting one point behind the top four going into the weekend. 

Winger Isgro returns after a month out and faces another winger in Wade who is on his way out soon. 

Wade has announced that he is switching codes and joining Wigan Warriors in the Super League after the season, so will be wanting to make one last final impression in Cherry and White. 

Both are electric players who can make something out of nothing, and both have utilised their experience in different codes, both having some experience of playing sevens. 

It will be good to see Isgro return, and he will be wanting to spoil Gloucester’s day. 

Jacques Vermeulen v Tom Lockett 

Northampton Saints have heavily rotated their squad after the huge win against Leinster last weekend, which is unsurprising given that they have nothing to play for domestically this season. 

Exeter Chiefs are in the same boat, with not much motivation to play for aside from personal pride. 

Tom Lockett is given the nod for Saints in his first appearance as captain, so he will be up for this game more than most. 

He is up against fellow flanker Vermeulen, who has a different motivation. 

Vermeulen is joining Sale next season, so will be wanting to impress his future employers with a big end to the season. 

In a game with not much to play for, these two have a bit of added motivation.