With just four weekends of Gallagher Premiership action remaining before the playoffs, spots two to four are still very much up for grabs heading into round 15.
Friday 25 April
15/20 Sale Sharks | Draw 23/1 | Saracens 12/10
Sale picked up an invaluable 43-29 win at Harlequins last week as they welcome Saracens to Salford Community Stadium.
With three wins from their last three in the Premiership, the Mancunian club are gaining some nice momentum and must make the most of it with a tough trip to the Tigers on the horizon.
Sarries pushed past Gloucester 36-14 at home in the last round to occupy fifth, level on points (44) with their fourth-placed opponents this week. A win would be a huge psychological boost for Mark McCall and his charges, who have been far from the uber-consistent team we have come to expect this season.
Verdict: Sale on the board
Sale are looking more convincing at this stage and should triumph at home.
Saturday 26 April
1/100 Bath | Draw 68/1 | Newcastle Falcons 13/1
Bristol’s loss last week means Bath are now well and truly out of sight at the summit, 15 points better off than second-placed Leicester. With eight wins from their last eight in all competitions, and playing at the Rec, there’s just no way this Falcons outfit, who’ve lost each of their last four, will have the minerals to pull off an upset.
Verdict: Bath on the minus (-24.5) 9/10
It could get ugly for Newcastle
3/10 Leicester Tigers | Draw 23/1 | Harlequins 28/10
Tigers were superb in their win over Bears at Ashton Gate and are now sitting pretty in second, albeit level on points with Pat Lam’s troops. With massive tests against Sale (home) and Bath (away) still to come for Michael Cheika and his side, they simply must put away this inconsistent Quins unit on Saturday.
The visitors were undone at the Stoop last week by Sale in a result that now leaves them six points off the top four in seventh. It’s a long way back for the 2021 champions now, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if their three-game losing run was extended by one come the end of the weekend.
Verdict: Leicester on the board
Leicester will be too good for Harlequins in the East Midlands.
3/10 Northampton Saints | Draw 23/1 | Bristol Bears 26/10
With all eyes on their upcoming Champions Cup semi-final with Leinster, Saints could feel the brunt of a Bristol team with arguably more to play for at Franklin’s Gardens.
The defending champions’ title defence has been over for some time, and the faint glimmer of hope that their last four appearance in Europe will give them could be the gap the away team need to win this one.
Having dropped to third after their disappointing home loss to Leicester, there will be plenty for the Bears to play for in their quest to secure a first semi-final appearance since they finished first in the 2020/21 season. Given both sides’ tendency to concede and score big, there should be a lot of tries in this one.
Verdict: Bristol
Bristol to do a job on Northampton.
Sunday 27 April
2/9 Gloucester | Draw 25/1 | Exeter Chiefs 36/10
The Cherry and Whites just weren’t good enough to get one over Saracens in the end, and they must now fight their way back onto the top four yet again. Sitting sixth, three points off the pace, they have to take their chance against a Chiefs team that has struggled on the road this season.
Sitting ninth with just three wins to their name all season, Chiefs’ ambition may fall short of their opponents’ this week, which could cost them in their quest to finish their dreadful campaign strongly.
Verdict: Gloucester on the board
The home team to bank an important win.
