Round 11 of the Premiership heralds the inaugural weekend of matches in 2024 with just three points separating the top six teams.
Round ten smashed attendance records drawing over 152,000 fans to witness the five festive fixtures, and 76,813 packed Twickenham for the Big Game as Harlequins edged Gloucester in a nine-try thriller.
Notably, Northampton's dramatic victory against Sale on TNT Sports commanded the highest TV viewership of the season, with an average audience of 259,000 tuning in.
The opening round of 2024 brings fresh opportunities for struggling teams to turn the tide. Winless Newcastle host a much changed Harlequins at Kingston Park, and Bristol travel to the AJ Bell to face Sale looking for a statement victory on Friday evening.
Exeter and Northampton collide in a top-of-the-table clash and Leicester face Saracens in a rematch of the 2022 final on Saturday afternoon. The weekend culminates with a West Country derby between Bath and Gloucester on Sunday afternoon.
Matthew Luddington offers insights into this week's fixtures.
Newcastle vs Harlequins – Friday 5 January (7:45 pm kick-off)
The Falcons aim to leave behind a challenging 2023, and bring some cheer to their fans at Kingston Park in 2024.
Alex Codling's young side showed encouraging signs at Saracens last week and Adam Radwan reminded the league and Steve Borthwick of his remarkable speed with a superb solo score. Newcastle have largely been competitive at home this season, and will be targeting Friday's match as a prime opportunity to secure their first win of the season in the Premiership in front of a passionate home crowd.
Harlequins put on a show in their Big Game, exemplified by Danny Care's exquisite chip for Alex Dombrandt's try. With vital European clashes coming up, Billy Millard has opted to rotate his side, with England half-backs Danny Care and Marcus Smith both rested.
This offers the wider squad an opportunity to shine, but could leave Quins vulnerable against a desperate Newcastle side.
NEWCASTLE: Penny, Radwan, Wacokecoke, Holgate, Stephens, Connon, Elliot, Brantingham, Byrne, Bello, De Chaves, McDonald, Rubiolo, Pepper, Chick ©
Replacements: Van Vuuren, Brocklebank, Mccallum, Cardall, Van Der Walt, Barton, Johnson, Obatoyinbo
HARLEQUINS: Green, David, Beard, Esterhuizen, Anderson, Edwards, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Collier, Herbst, Hammond, Chisholm, Evans, Dombrandt ©
Replacements: Riley, Els, Chawatama, Launchbury, Cunningham-South, Green, Anyanwu, Lynagh
Sale vs Bristol – Friday 5 January (7.45pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Sale return to the AJ Bell Stadium after a setback against Northampton last week aiming to continue their unbeaten home run in the Premiership that dates back to October 2022.
Sale dominated against Saracens in their last home game, and their star-studded pack will be looking to gain the upper hand again against Bristol and drive the Sharks to yet another win in front of their home fans.
Bristol suffered a disappointing defeat in front of their largest crowd of the season at Ashton Gate against Exeter last week, and need to bounce back immediately to revive their dwindling play-off aspirations. Pat Lam's men are facing a growing injury list, but still have an abundance of talent and can score tries from anywhere.
The clash between Sale's power game and Bristol's dynamic attacking style is a fascinating prospect to get the new year underway.
SALE: Carpenter, Roebuck, James, Ma'asi-White, Reed, R du Preez, Warr; Harrison, Cowan-Dickie, Schonert, Wiese, Hill, van Rhyn, Curry (C), D du Preez
Replacements: Creevy, Onasanya, Harper, Beaumont, Dugdale, Thomas, Curtis, Veainu
BRISTOL: Malins, Heward, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye, MacGinty, Randall; Woolmore, Oghre, Sinckler, Caulfield, Batley, Luatua (C), Thomas, Bradbury
Replacements: Capon, Grahamslaw, Kloska, Owen, Heenan, Marmion, Ravouvou, Lane
Exeter vs Northampton – Saturday 6 January (3.00 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Exeter went unbeaten at home in all competitions in 2023, and seem to have turned the corner away from home after crucial recent victories against Newcastle, Toulon and Exeter.
Rob Baxter's young side have added pace and width to their traditional power game this year, and now have the chance to move top of the table with a win against leaders Northampton at fortress Sandy Park.
Northampton have lit up the Premiership this year with their fearless brand of rugby, and showed huge character last week against Sale to come from behind and win with two late tries
This encounter promises an exhilarating match-up between the two top sides in the league, both of them full of confidence.
EXETER: Wyatt, Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Hawkins, Hammersley, Skinner, Townsend; Abuladze, Yeandle, Iosefa-Scott; Pearson, Jenkins (c); Roots, Vermeulen, Fisilau
Replacements: Norey, Hepburn, Painter, Tuima, Vintcent, Cairns, Devoto, Wimbush
NORTHAMPTON: Furbank (c), Sleightholme, Odendaal, Hutchinson, Litchfield, F Smith, Braley; Haffar, S Matavesi, Davison; Moon, Munga; Coles, Scott-Young, Graham
Replacements: Langdon, Iyogun, Millar Mills, Mayanavanua, Pearson, Mitchell, Dingwall, Freeman.
Leicester vs Saracens – Saturday 6 January (3.05 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Leicester have been in fine form recently, winning their last four matches at Welford Road, and now face a crucial showdown with champions Saracens.
January looks to be a pivotal month for The Tigers, who also face last year's Champions Cup finalists La Rochelle and Leinster in consecutive weeks before a trip to the Stoop. The Tigers are seven points off fourth, and know victory on Saturday is vital to stay in touch in the race for the play-offs.
Saracens endured a disappointing December, and will need to get back to their best for a crucial set of January fixtures. The Londoners will be without England prop Mako Vunipola this month however after he was handed a four game ban for a dangerous tackle against Newcastle that won't impact his Six Nations participation.
Fans can anticipate a close, intense, and physical battle between two teams with star-studded packs.
LEICESTER: Steward, Simmons, Kelly, Kata, Brown, Pollard, Whiteley; Cronin, Montoya ©, Heyes, Martin, Chessum, Rogerson, Reffell, Wiese
Replacements: Theobold-Thomas, van Wyk, Hurd, Wells, Hatherell, Cracknell, Youngs, Shillock
SARACENS: Parton, Segun, Daly, Tompkins, Cinti, Farrell, Simpson; Crean Pifeleti, Judge, Itoje, Tizard, McFarland, Gonzalez, Earl
Bath vs Gloucester – Sunday 7 January (3.00 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Bath prepare to face rivals Gloucester full of confidence and with key players fresh after being rested in their defeat at Welford Road last week.
Bath produced a sensational comeback from 20-10 down at half-time to win 45-27 at Kingsholm when these two sides met earlier in the season, and the balance of power has shifted since Gloucester beat Bath 64-0 in a record victory less than two years ago.
Gloucester's frustrating season was summed up in their narrow defeat to Harlequins last week. The Cherry and Whites scored some excellent tries, but also missed clear try-scoring opportunities, made mistakes in defence, were unfortunate with decisions and ultimately came up short.
Gloucester have now lost eight consecutive Premiership games, and a trip to the Rec offers them the opportunity for a statement victory that could transform their season.
BATH: de Glanville, Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Redpath, Muir, Russell, Spencer; Obano, Dunn, Stuart, Stooke, Ewels, van Velze, Reid, Coetzee
Replacements: Annett, du Toit, Griffin, Roux, Barbeary, Carr-Smith, Harris, Underhill
GLOUCESTER: Carreras, May, Harris, Atkinson, Thorley, Hastings, Englefield; Vivas, McGuigan, Gotovstev, Clarke, Alemanno, Ackermann, Ludlow, Mercer
Replacements: Blake, Ford-Robinson, Balmain, Jordan, Clement, Varney, Lwellyn, Rees-Zammit
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