Premiership Rugby Round 17 Talking Points: Danny Care set for Stoop farewell

With this weekend marking the penultimate round of Premiership Rugby, the stakes are higher than ever. 

Every game has something riding on it, and at least one team playing that has something massive to play for. 

First play against second, third against fourth, with the teams below them circling, so the table could look a lot different on Sunday evening. 

Here, Charlie Elliott goes through the biggest talking point from each game, with an emphasis on the play-off picture. 

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Gloucester v Newcastle Falcons: Must-win for Cherry and Whites 

Gloucester need to win this game if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four, but it still might not be enough. 

They sit sixth, three points behind Sale Sharks and Saracens, so could make up serious ground if those two were to slip up, which is possible given their difficult fixtures against Bristol Bears and Northampton Saints. 

Newcastle tends to raise their performance on Friday nights on home turf and will be playing for pride, so they won’t provide the Cherry and Whites with an easy game. 

The last game between the two was a Falcons win at Kingston Park, which knocked George Skivington’s side out of the Prem Rugby Cup. 

Sale Sharks v Bristol: Winner takes all 

Sale hosts Bristol in the game with the most riding on it for both teams this weekend. Third visiting fourth, with teams circling below them, it really is a must-win. 

The hosts have had a near-impeccable season on home soil, having only lost one league game at the Salford Community Stadium this campaign, against Bath. 

They also beat Bristol 38-0 at Ashton Gate earlier in the season, so they know how to convincingly beat Pat Lam’s side. 

Bears will be looking to exact revenge on them at exactly the right time, as a win for them would almost guarantee their spot in the play-offs. 

If Sale were to lose, a Saracens win or loss with an extra bonus point, then the Sharks would put them in the top four. 

Bristol losing would also mean that Sarries would have an opportunity to overtake, so there is a very real chance that whoever loses drops out of the top four going into the final day. 

Northampton Saints v Saracens: Sarries need to stamp out inconsistency 

With Bristol and Sale playing each other, Saracens have a real chance to burst into the top four with a win. But they need to stamp out the inconsistency that has plagued their season. 

One week, Mark McCall’s side look unstoppable, the next, disappointing. Injuries haven’t helped the squad this season, but after a huge win over the Falcons last time out, there seems to be an air of confidence around the team. 

Nine wins and seven losses this season, including slip-ups against the bottom-two sides, shows that they are good when they are at their best, but it is a matter of reaching that level on a regular basis. 

Saints are gearing up for their Champions Cup final and won’t see a win as essential; however, spoiling the party in their last game of the season at Franklin Gardens could be on the agenda. 

It is also their first home game after their huge win over Leinster, so the crowd will be massively up for it. 

Bath v Leicester Tigers: Potential future final? 

Given that this game is first v second, it is not bold to assume that there is a good chance that this could be the final in a few weeks. 

Tigers will almost certainly finish second, or third at worst, so wouldn’t meet table-topping Bath until the final if both were to get through. 

These sides have a real opportunity to show that they are better than the other and put out a real statement. 

It may also provide an opportunity for the head coaches to better grasp the tactical nuances of their opponent that could benefit them in the future. 

Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs: Danny Care’s last game at The Stoop 

Legendary scrum-half Danny Care announced his retirement from professional rugby this week, which means that the last two games of the season are his last in Quins colours. 

With this game marking the last at the Stoop of the season, Care is set to be given one final farewell by the supporters. 

He has been at the club since 2006, making almost 400 appearances and scoring nearly 600 points. A truly remarkable player and one who will go down as one of the greatest to have ever played for the club. 

Over a century of England caps shows just how good of a career he has had, and Quins will be hoping to give their talisman a fitting sendoff. 

By Charlie Elliott