English rugby’s attention returns to the Prem this weekend after two weeks of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup action and before fans look forward to the Six Nations.
English rugby’s attention returns to the Prem this weekend after two weeks of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup action and before fans look forward to the Six Nations.
Clubs will be desperate for wins in the single fixture they have before the next international break, each side aiming to meet their ambitions. Sale Sharks and Northampton Saints are among those requiring wins for different reasons, with the Manchester-based side needing a victory to keep their slim hopes of qualifying for the playoffs alive. Meanwhile Saints will be aiming for the double over Sale this season, and should they do so, they will remain top of the league.
Punters may have a keen interest in this fixture, as there is a significant chance of an upset, with the underdogs more than capable of causing this, at least from the odds coming into this match.
Sharks set to bite the Saints
Northampton have been an imperious force in the Premiership this season, suffering only one loss to the Bristol Bears in the division this campaign. Their attack has statistically been the best in the Prem this season, according to the division. The Saints have scored the most points and tries in the division with 347 and 21, respectively. Sale will need to be wary of the visitors’ running game, as they have made 4942 carrying metres across the campaign so far, with their ability to create a clean break helping this stat, managing to do this on 131 occasions.
However, Alex Sanderson will be confident his side’s defence will be able to withstand the Saints attack, with Sale having the fifth-best goal line denial among teams competing in the top domestic leagues in Europe, being able to deny opponents from scoring a try when entering their 22 in 31.8% of the time. While in attack they will be hopeful their contestable kicking game can test Northampton, as they have used this approach on 17.3% of them through their fixtures this season. However, Sale fans will be desperate for a win this weekend against Northampton after their humbling last weekend away to Toulouse and will demand a victory after their squad was rested for this Prem game, so expect a response from the squad.
The Odds
According to Betway, through Oddschecker, Northampton have been made favourites for this fixture, but only slightly, as if you were to bet on them to be winners for the game, you would get odds of 1.9, which means that if you bet £10, you would win £9, giving you a total return of £19. Meanwhile, the odds from the same company have Sale Sharks at 2.0, meaning that if you bet £10, you will win £10, giving you a return of £20.
This is expected to be a close match, so the handicap options are limited, with the best choice from Betway arguably being the five-point each way. This would see Sale given a +5, meaning that they start the game with an extra five points, at odds of 1.36, meaning that if you put £10 on this, you would win £3.60. Meanwhile, should you choose to give Saints a -5 points difference to make up, then this would come at odds of 3.0; this means that if you put £10 on this, you will win £20, giving you a total return of £30.
The Likely Winner
Not every punter is as willing to back a close game or an underdog and will look for the most likely chance of their bet being a success with some return on the risk they have invested in. This is no different this weekend in the Prem, as there is one game which will be of interest.
Saracens are set to host Newcastle Red Bulls at home, with this expected to be a walkover for the London side against the northerners. The home side require a win to keep pressure on those above them in the race for the playoffs and know they must take five points in this fixture to have any serious chance of achieving this ambition. Their opponents are looking for their first away win in the competition since November 2022, when they beat Gloucester.
It is not surprising to see that Newcastle have one of the weakest defences across the Prem, URC and Top 14 statistically. The visitors will need to tighten up to stop the powerful Saracens attack, as 40.3% of their missed tackles have led to either a try or a break, the second worst in Europe. While their attack has also not functioned this season, as only 25.3% of their carries have been dominant, the second worst in Europe.
In comparison, Saracens will be confident they can roll over the visitors with their huge carriers. The London side will be aware that on 59.8% of occasions this season it has taken at least two tacklers to take down their carrier, the second best in Europe.
The Odds
Saracens have been made heavy favourites for this game, as they have been given odds of 1.02, which means that if you bet £10 you will win 20p, giving you a total return of £10.02. Meanwhile, Newcastle are huge underdogs, as they have been given odds of 21.0, meaning that if you put £10 on this game, you will have a total return of £210.
This is expected to be a high-scoring affair for Saracens, with Newcastle battling to keep them out, meaning a handicap may be the best option for punters. The best option for this comes through Betfair, with a points difference. This would see Newcastle given a +26, meaning that they start the game with an extra 26 points, at odds of 1.91, meaning that if you put £10 on this, you would win £9.10, giving you a total return of £19.10. Meanwhile, should you choose to give Sarries a -26 points difference to make up, then this would come at odds of 1.91; this means that if you put £10 on this, you will win £9.10, giving you a total return of £19.10.
