Northampton Saints vs London Irish
16th April 1945hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick London Irish +8 handicap
Bookmaker Betfair
Odds: Even money odds taken 16:31 GMT on April 14th, 2021
Premiership rugby betting returns this weekend and the Northampton Saints find themselves in a race to try and make the top four.
They start Friday night’s fixture in fifth place in the table and would draw level with fourth-placed Harlequins with a victory.
A bonus-point win puts them above.
But London Irish have enjoyed a positive season as well and start only one point behind the Saints.
So they could keep their top-four hopes alive with a victory.
Table of Contents
Northampton Saints Preview – Saints to continue positive league form
Northampton were eliminated from the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals in their last fixture, a home defeat suffered against Ulster.
In the last league game that they played Northampton were out on the road at Worcester and ran up more than 60 points in the fixture.
It’s been two wins in their last three league fixtures, one of those were at home and the other away.
Their overall form at Franklin’s Gardens hasn’t been great in the 2021 calendar year.
In all competitions, Northampton Saints have won just twice there and one of those was a declared victory over Newcastle Falcons.
In the match outright for Premiership rugby betting, a win for the Saints is at 1/3* (odds recorded 16:31 GMT on April 14th, 2021).
The overall home record for Northampton from their completed games is W2 L3 this season, the victories happening against Worcester and Sale Sharks.
The scheduled meeting between the two clubs earlier this season for Round 5 was cancelled, the Saints being the declared winners in that one.
As a positive for Northampton, they have a good home record going against the Exiles.
Northampton have lost only one home game against London Irish since 2015.
They are the strong favourites for this contest and a Saints -8 handicap is at even money* (odds recorded 16:31 GMT on April 14th, 2021).
That looks to be a little bit of a wide, risky handicap line in play because this looks like being a tight fixture.
There has been an average of 25 points per fixture scored by Northampton this season.
That’s about three points per game on average better than what Friday night’s opponents London Irish have managed.
London Irish Preview – Exiles can challenge hard at Franklin’s Gardens
This is a big game for London Irish and an away win would put them in a great position to make a run at a top-four finish.
They are hitting the road as the 12/5 underdogs in Premiership rugby betting for Friday night* (odds recorded 16:31 GMT on April 14th, 2021).
Each of the last six fixtures that London Irish have played have been won by the home side on the day. That’s in all competitions.
They did have some European action in the Challenge Cup to go through on this recent break.
There was a victory for them at home against the Cardiff Blues. But then their campaign was ended on a visit to Bath.
That leaves London Irish with a W3 L2 record in their last five games played. Each of the wins in that sequence were on home soil, however.
The only away win that they have taken during the 2021 calendar year in all competitions was a victory at Wasps in February.
A victory in this one would be huge for London Irish. But their away record in this season’s top-flight (completed games) is W1 D1 L4.
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Looking at their four losses, there has been a real mix in terms of margins.
Their defeats against Leicester Tigers and bottom side Worcester Warriors were by a single point only.
Their other two losses, against Exeter and Sale, were by at least 23 points.
But the Exiles have been a good tough, battling side this season and we think that they can stay close to the Saints.
So a London Irish +8 handicap for a quote of even money does have appeal* (odds recorded 16:31 GMT on April 14th, 2021).
Northampton Saints vs London Irish Betting Advice
We would have to go with the Saints picking up the victory at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night.
They haven’t been prolific there with their form, so we think this is tight.
The London Irish +8 handicap is the way that we are going to roll for Premiership rugby betting* (odds recorded 16:31 GMT on April 14th, 2021).
Key Facts – Northampton Saints vs London Irish Betting Tip
- Northampton Saints have won one match played at Franklin’s Gardens this year
- Northampton Saints have won two of their last three league games
- London Irish haven’t beaten the Saints since 2015
We can’t get to the win for the Exiles because they don’t have head to head form away at Northampton.
Nor do they really have much away form anyway at all this season.
We think that a Northampton 1-10 winning margin at 21/10 looks a good option for rugby betting* (odds recorded 16:31 GMT on April 14th, 2021).
The best betting odds for Northampton Saints vs London Irish
Northampton Saints to win: 2/5 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
London Irish to win: 21/10 at Bet365
