Northampton vs Exeter predictions and rugby union tips

Northampton vs Exeter betting tips

The Gallagher Premiership season passes the quarter pole marker this weekend and the Exeter Chiefs are unlikely league leaders going into their clash at Northampton (3pm, ITV1).

With the recent World Cup having dominated the rugby landscape up until the end of October, the Chiefs’ impressive start to the season had gone under the radar. 

Exeter made it three wins from four with a bonus-point victory over Bristol Bears last weekend, leaving them a point clear of second-placed Harlequins and four points better off than Northampton.

A bonus-point win for the Saints, coupled with Exeter taking away nothing from the fixture, could see Northampton end the round on top and they enter this clash in good form too.

Northampton have won their last two games against Newcastle and Bath, and welcome back a couple of big hitters this weekend for the visit of the league leaders. 

After looking at UK betting sites, we’ve come up with the following predictions on what promises to be an entertaining game in the Premiership's first outing of the season on terrestrial television. 

Young Chiefs may thrive on Gardens visit

It was expected to be a season of consolidation for Exeter following a transformative summer which saw them lose 19 players, including Dave Ewers, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Simmonds, Joe Simmonds, Stuart Hogg and Jack Nowell. 

Those players had helped make Exeter Premiership and European champions in the not-too-distant past, and although Chiefs missed out on the play-offs last season, they were still expected to struggle without so many marquee players. 

Instead, director of rugby Rob Baxter has handed a chance to a talented collection of youngsters and they’ve revelled in the opportunity. 

Exeter have hammered both last year’s Grand Final participants, Saracens and Sale, and have comfortably scored more Premiership tries (23) and points (151) than anyone else after four rounds. 

The big test now is whether Baxter’s youngsters can keep up the pace as their rivals welcome back their World Cup stars.

Sunday’s game will be a good test of that with Northampton handing recalls to England duo Courtney Lawes and Alex Mitchell.

They replace Tom Pearson, who has been excellent following his summer arrival, and Tom James, while Saints are further boosted by James Ramm’s return on the wing after an ankle injury. 

Northampton have become known for their attacking brand of rugby under Phil Dowson but have shown there’s a little more steel and pragmatism to their game this season. 

Saints have kicked more and accumulated more kicking metres than any other side, while their pack showed its mettle against Bath, demolishing the visitors' scrum. 

Exeter’s pack will be a tougher nut to crack and for the second weekend running, Baxter has opted to change his entire front row, while Wales duo Dafydd Jenkins and Joe Hawkins come into the side, the latter as captain.

A Chiefs team averaging more carries per game than anyone else might enjoy Saints’ new-found kicking approach as they seek their first away win in the Premiership in over a year. 

Northampton are narrow favourites with new betting sites and that’s understandable when considering they won nine out of 10 home league games last season. 

A lot of those wins were tight affairs though and there’s not been a lot in it when they’ve hosted Exeter at Franklin’s Gardens recently.

Four of the last five games at Northampton have been decided by three points and we’re backing Exeter with a five-point start on the handicap to keep this one close.

For the bet to win, Exeter need to win outright or claim a draw. A defeat by four points or less would also see the wager land.

Wyatt may run riot in Northampton

This sets up as a high-scoring fixture, meaning it’s a tough choice when examining the tryscoring options. 

Chiefs hooker Dan Frost is an interesting candidate at 11/8 having scored four tries already this season and with Exeter hoping to dominate up front. 

But Baxter has substituted his entire front row on 47 minutes in the last two games, meaning Frost may not offer the best value for money. 

Instead, Chiefs youngster Tom Wyatt is preferred at 15/8 with bet365. 

The versatile 23-year-old has operated at full-back in Exeter’s last three games and has completed the full 80 minutes. 

Last time out, he bagged his first Premiership try against Bath, powering over despite the attention of two defenders. 

That was Wyatt’s fifth try of the season having scored four in four in the Premiership Cup and he’s a threat to run one back if Northampton don’t get their kicking game right.

Lightning fast start from the Chiefs 

Northampton will want to put down an early marker against the league leaders at home, but their record of getting the first points on the board at Franklin's Gardens has been a little patchy. 

Going back to last season, Northampton have scored first in three of their last six home league matches and are up against an Exeter side that’s been chomping at the bit to get going. 

The Chiefs have scored a try inside four minutes in each of their first four games, while they drew first blood in both meetings against Northampton last season. 

With our final Northampton vs Exeter prediction, we’re backing the Chiefs to score first at 19/20 with BetMGM.

For those rugby fans looking to have a wager on this weekend's Premiership action, bookmakers have a host of sign-up offers available, many of which include free bets.

Chris is an experienced sports betting writer who has worked with most major bookmakers and national media outlets, such as Racing Post and ITN. He covers a wide range of sports with his favourites being NFL, rugby, football and Formula 1.