Our West Country sides have had nightmare openings to the Guinness Premiership but Bath have the best chance of getting a win today to kick-start their campaign.

They have lost games that they shouldn't have and they will relish the game against Newcastle. Although the Falcons should not be taken lightly, I think it's the ideal fixture to get back to winning ways.

Everybody at Bath is a little bit anxious. They have had one win in seven and they are looking down the end of the barrel in Europe.

If they don't start well and Newcastle get a couple of early scores, then their confidence will break quickly. By hook or by crook, great rugby or ugly rugby, Bath need to get back to winning ways, and I think the Newcastle game will be their first win in many a moon.

For me, the jury is still out on Gloucester. They are desperate for a win but they will have to play 10 to 20 per cent better than they have so far this season if they are to get a result against Wasps.

Wasps are past masters at coming to get wins against sides that need wins they have got a great side, they are always good to play against and they are strong from one to 15.

If Gloucester had won a few more games, the public would probably allow them to have a defeat today, but the Kingsholm faithful will have the daggers out for Bryan Redpath and the players if they lose.

I think there have been contributing factors to Gloucester's problems – a new coach takes time to bed in and they have been cruelly hit by injuries, but when you look at their squad you would have to say it's one of the strongest in the Premiership.

They have been missing personnel, but they have got a big squad that can compete throughout the season. They desperately need a win, otherwise the pressure will mount and mount, but I have got a feeling Wasps will prolong Gloucester's woes.

Redpath is saying he wants them to be more pragmatic and not give so much freedom but get back to basics. He then picks Carlos Spencer who is a complete maverick, at fly-half. It may have been kidology, and saying that to the players rather than to the public. He does not want his players losing again. Again they are desperate for a win.

They have had a nightmare start. Bath have given away games and all our West Country sides of them they have the best chance.

Gloucester have got Wasps. Wasps .

Wasps will take advantage of a side that is not playing well.

For me the jury is still out.

In the Championship, the game at Doncaster is a huge banana skin for Bristol.

They got their first win last week so they will be relishing the big names of Bristol coming up there. I don't know what the weather will be like, but the Yorkshire crowd will love it to be wet and muddy, and they will be looking to take a scalp.

It's a very unforgiving league where there is no respect for reputations and Bristol cannot afford to go there thinking they can walk over the opposition.

They will have to give more of the sort of performance they gave in the second half at Penzance. It's a huge banana skin and a game that they cannot afford to lose.

In the Championship, if you play for 30 or 40 minutes, you are going to be in tight contests and luck will go against you.

The match against the Cornish Pirates was level at half-time and then Bristol pulled away in the second half. That's the sort of performance you would be expecting for 40-60 minutes and that's what will win most games.

INTERVIEW: GARETH WATKINS