Bath may be favourites but it's too close to call

ATH may be the favour-ites to win the Premiership after dominating the regular season, but Anthony Watson will never forget what happened when they reached the final 10 years ago.

- Paul Rees talks to former Lions, England and Leicester Tigers winger Anthony Watson about this season’s title finale

Bath, who finished second in the table in 2015, faced Saracens, who only secured fourth place in the last round and went on to win at Northampton in the play-off.

Sarries were 25-3 up at half-time in the Twickenham final, and while Bath fought back after the break they were kept at arm’s length and their wait for a first Premiership still goes on.

“When it comes to the play-offs you cannot take previous form as evidence of what will happen,” said Watson, the former England and Lions wing who was forced to retire through injury halfway through the season.

“Semi-finals and finals are different from a league campaign. Anything can happen on the day. I certainly would not want to call anything yet,” added Watson who started his career at London Irish and ended it at Leicester.

The Tigers will seal second place if they defeat Newcastle at Welford Road on Saturday, something they have failed to do only twice in the Premiership era, giving them and Bath a home play-off.

Sale are currently third and Bristol fourth. Bath have doubled both Leicester and the Sharks this season but two of their three league defeats were inflicted by the Bears who have won 10 of the last 12 Premiership meetings against their West Country neigh-bours.

“Leicester were going well until they lost at Bath last weekend,” said Watson, right. “Sale have a big pack and can never be written off while Bristol can be insane on their day.