Exeter Chiefs vs Sale Sharks
6th March 2022 – Kick Off 1500hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Sale +3 handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: Even Money odds taken 17:44 GMT on March 4th, 2022
Exeter have moved up into the top four in Premiership Rugby having rediscovered their form after some struggles.
It’s been a three-match winning streak that the Chiefs have put together recently.
Will they be able to extend that as they face the in-form Sale Sharks who are undefeated in their last five fixtures?
Table of Contents
Exeter Chiefs Preview – Chiefs on the up
Exeter Chiefs have their foot back on the gas after having slumped to a three-match losing streak.
They have completely turned the table on that with a three-match winning streak since.
Last weekend they went up against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens and picked up a narrow success.
Neither of the last two league wins for Exeter have been by a margin of anything more than three points.
In the match outright for Premiership rugby betting, the win for Exeter is at 8/13 odds* (odds recorded 17:44 GMT on March 4th, 2022 at Bet365).
The only home match that Exeter have lost since November was a league reverse against Wasps in early February.
They are a tough side to knock over at Sandy Park and they have won all but two of their previous 12 matches there against Sale Sharks (L2).
Home advantage and the head to head form then is with Exeter on Sunday.
They have been bolstered too by some players returning from the international camps to get back to Premiership Rugby action, including Stuart Hogg.
It has been far from plain sailing for Exeter Chiefs this season who have lost seven matches.
If they lose one more in this campaign, that would be the most that they have picked up since the 2014/15 season.
We can only imagine that a tight margin will be in play.
Each of Exeter’s last eleven league matches have been settled by a margin of no more than nine points.
An Exrter -5 handicap is at a quote of 6/5 for Premiership Rugby betting* (odds recorded 17:44 GMT on March 4th, 2022 at Bet365).
This is a significant clash for points in the race for a top-four finish.
Sale Sharks Preview – Can Sale get an important road win?
Four points for the win on Sunday would see Sale move level on points with Exeter.
Considering Exeter were in fourth place in the standings after last weekend’s round of action, that would be huge for the Sharks.
It took the Sharks a while to get going this season, but they are in form at the moment.
Sale Sharks are unbeaten in their last five Premiership Rugby matches.
In the match outright for Sunday, Sale have 11/8 underdog odds to defy* (odds recorded 17:44 GMT on March 4th, 2022 at Bet365).
Sale played out a thrilling 27-all draw with London Irish in their last league fixture.
That leaves them at W5 D1 in their last six first-team matches in all tournaments.
They have lost only two of their last ten.
Granted Sale Sharks are generally a strong team at home, but they have won back to back road fixtures.
Those were league matches at Harlequins and Northampton Saints, both excellent results for the Sharks.
They have to be respected at Sandy Park.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Sale Sharks have lost their last two visits to Sandy Park in the league and have generally struggled there.
It will be interesting to see if they can shut down Exeter’s power.
They did an exceptional job of making metres last weekend with carries and will need a similar output on Sunday.
Sale have a very powerful pack which gets strengthened this week and Raffi Quirke gets a start at scrum-half ahead of Faf de Klerk.
This should be a fantastic contest and Sale Sharks can’t be counted out of this.
Exeter Chiefs vs Sale Sharks Betting Advice
We are expecting a big battle up front because that is where a lot of the Sale Sharks strength is.
They have such a powerful front five and should be able to take Exeter on.
The concern for Sale is their poor record against Exeter and that the Chiefs have come back into form.
With that in mind, we are going with the Sale +3 handicap at even money* (odds recorded 17:44 GMT on March 4th, 2022 at Bet365).
Key Facts – Exeter Chiefs vs Sale Sharks Betting Tip
- Exeter Chiefs have won 10 of their 12 home matches against Sale
- Exeter Chiefs are on a three-match winning streak
- Sale Sharks are unbeaten in five league matches (W4 D1)
Exeter have taken good wins against Gloucester and Northampton in two of their last three wins.
They look to be in better shape than they were but still don’t look to be at the clinical finishing best, so this could be tight.
An Exeter 1-7 winning margin is the rugby betting pick at 11/4* (odds recorded 17:44 GMT on March 4th, 2022 at Bet365).
The best betting odds for Exeter Chiefs vs Sale Sharks
Exeter Chiefs to win: 8/13 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Sale Sharks to win: 11/8 at Bet365
