Exiles set for battle with the Warriors as the race for the play-offs rampages on

Declan Kidney’s London Irish side have experienced some good form since the turn of the year, and as such have edged ever closer towards the allusive top four. With just one win since Boxing Day, the Worcester Warriors will arrive at the Brentford Community Stadium with the hopes of upsetting the odds and consequently stopping the rot.

With Gloucester, Wasps and Northampton all suffering disappointment in recent weeks, the Exiles have moved into prime position to pounce into the play-offs, as they sit just two points behind 4th placed Exeter Chiefs with a game in hand.

As for Worcester, despite no relegation from the Premiership this season, Bath’s upturn in form means that the Warriors will need to see improvements if they are to avoid sitting bottom of the pile come the end of the season.

With another break week from the Six Nations, one would hope that the London Irish faithful will be out in their thousands for a game which they all see as must win if they are serious about making the post-season.

The Exiles’ poor start to the 2021/2022 campaign was seemingly cancelled out by an impressive run of nine wins in 12 games in all competitions, but defeat at Kingsholm followed by a late opportunity to beat Sale missed has stunted their progress. Declan Kidney’s side will hope that they do not live to regret Paddy Jackson’s missed conversion in the 76th minute to snatch the win.

After earning a hard fought victory over Bristol Bears, the Warriors returned to Sixways to play Harlequins in their last outing. Despite previously being on the end of some hefty defeats against the division’s better sides, Alan Solomons side gave the reigning champions as good as they got, taking an early lead and going in at half time all square at 14-14.

However, the second half saw the quality of ‘Quins show, despite a depleted side due to International involvement.

London Irish have made six changes to the side that drew with Sale Sharks, with Kyle Rowe, Benhard Van Regensburg, Facundo Gigena, Ollie Hoskins, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Sean O’Brien all coming into the XV.

On the other hand, Worcester will make eight changes form the team that succumbed to Harlequins. Duhan van der Merwe returns after Scottish International duties, whilst Ashley Beck, Billy Searle, Will Heinz, Ethan Waller, Isaac Miller, Justin Clegg, and Andrew Kitchener all return to the XV.

These two sides previously met on the opening day of the Premiership season, at which Worcester pulled off somewhat of a shock at Sixways, emerging 36-24 victors. Tries from Sam Lewis, Will Heinz and Melani Nanai gave the Warriors a commanding half-time lead. Solomons’ outfit survived the second half onslaught, and would go on to start their season in perfect fashion.

Whilst Worcester did ‘start as they mean to go on’, backing up such a victory in the Premiership is easier said than done, as the Midlands club found out.

They went on to lose their next five league matches, and in fact have only won three Premiership matches since.

The picture for London looked similarly bleak after their run of one win in eight to start the campaign, but Declan Kidney and his players have managed to turn their fortunes on their head, and certainly will look to avoid a repeat of their false start in Worcester.

With statistically the worst defence in the league, it is no surprise that the Warriors have had to score 27+ points in six of their seven victories in all completions this season. In fact, the only time they did not require this amount was in their last win as they edged out Bristol by 19-14 in an uncharacteristically cagy game.

London Irish have defensive issues of their own, with only Worcester and Bath in 12th and 13th sporting more points conceded. In fact, Irish have a points difference of +4, indicative of how near enough every game they play, win or lose, is desperately close.

However, against a team that has won just one in their last seven Premiership matches, Declan Kidney will hop he can breath a little easier with a more routine victory in this outing.

Should London emerge victorious, they will move into the top four for 24 hours at least, with Exeter welcoming the Sale Sharks to Sandy Park on Sunday.

Victory for Worcester however will take them above free-falling Newcastle into 11th.

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