The semi-finals of this season’s Gallagher Premiership get underway this weekend with Northampton Saints hosting defending champions Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday and Sale Sharks paying Bath a visit at The Rec on Saturday.
Friday 31 May
Northampton Saints 57/100 | Draw 20/1 | Saracens 31/20 (20:45
Handicap
Saints (-3.5) 17/20 | Saracens (+3.5) 17/20
Northampton ended the round-robin stage atop the log for the first time since 2015 in a season that has so far produced several outstanding moments including that 90-0 annihilation of Gloucester earlier this month, and home and away victories over their opponents this week. Those latter results (an 18-12 December win at the StoneX and 41-30 victory in March at home), will provide Phil Dowson’s side with massive confidence as they prepare to face this generation’s most successful English team.
It’s something of a last dance for this famous Saracens group, with club legends Owen Farrell, the Vunipola brothers and Sean Maitland all set to depart come the end of the campaign. With so much on the line and the pain of their disheartening final round home loss to Sale still fresh, one would think Sarries’ war dogs will arrive in Northampton hungry for blood.
Given Saints’ form this season, a Saracens victory on Friday would surely rank up there with the best the club have achieved under Mark McCall, and whatever happens the game will doubtless be decided by the slimmest of margins. All that said, Northampton have been in superb touch and should get over the line with their home support behind them.
Verdict: Saints at 57/100
Get on the hosts to qualify for what would be just a fourth final in their history.
Saturday 1 June
Bath 38/100 | Draw 20/1 | Sale Sharks 22/10 (16:30)
Handicap
Bath (-6.5) 17/20 | Sale (+6.5) 17/20
Bath’s rise has continued this season, with Johann van Graan’s men finishing second, level on points with Saints. It feels like just yesterday when the side were rooted to the bottom of the table and seemingly couldn’t buy a win, but the arrival of veteran players like Thomas du Toit and Finn Russell have proven a revelation in the side’s rapid improvement over the course of this season. They’ll take plenty of heart from their 42-24 defeat of Sale at The Rec in March into this one as they look to reach a first Premiership final in nine years.
Sale’s upset win over Saracens in London last week, their fifth in the Premiership in succession, means they head into this encounter with much in the way of momentum. Alex Sanderson’s charges fell at the final hurdle last season but will take those learnings into Saturday’s clash where the performance of their brutal forward pack, as well as George Ford at No 10, will make or break their afternoon.
Verdict: Bath (-7.5) 17/20
Bath have been the more complete and consistent side this year and should withstand the physical might of Sale to advance to the Grand Final.
