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Gallagher Premiership

PREVIEW: 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership – Round 4

Saints are at Tigers while Quins host Saracens in the standout fixtures of round four of the Gallagher Premiership this weekend.

dated 27-01-2024 of Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter, who says he has not ruled out bringing in new recruits but is not looking for short-term fixes. Issue date: Wednesday September 25, 2024.
Image: Backpagepix/File photo

Saints are at Tigers while Quins host Saracens in the standout fixtures of round four of the Gallagher Premiership this weekend.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Friday 11 October

1/33 Sale Sharks | Draw 40/1 | Newcastle Falcons 10/1

Handicap

Sale (-22.5) 17/20 | Newcastle (+22.5) 17/20

Sale rebounded from their heavy loss at Saracens in round two with a 31-27 showing over Gloucester at the Kingsholm.

They occupy sixth on nine-log points and should have no trouble claiming all five on offer against the Falcons at the AJ Bell.

The visitors already have a -67 points-difference tally after losses to Bears, Quins and Tigers, and there’s little to suggest Steve Diamond’s charges can match the physicality of Sale in Manchester.

Verdict: Sale Sharks on the minus

Sale to ease to a comfortable victory on Friday.

Saturday 12 October

8/10 Exeter Chiefs | Draw 18/1 | Bristol Bears 21/20

Their round three defeat at Saracens means Exeter remain winless ahead of this clash with high-flying Bears, and surely another defeat would set off the alarm bells for Rob Baxter.

Chiefs may still be in a rebuilding phase, but the former European champions can’t afford to continue being as far off the pace as they have been this season.

Bristol took advantage of an off-colour Bath to claim an invaluable win at The Rec, and they should carry that form into this clash at Sandy Park. Given what we’ve seen from them so far, Pat Lam’s group should be too strong for Exeter.

Verdict: Bristol

Bears to pick up their third win of the campaign.

22/10 Gloucester | Draw 20/1 | Bath 38/100

Handicap

Gloucester (+6.5) 17/20 | Bath (-6.5) 17/20

Despite having picked up just a solitary victory so far this season, the Cherry and Whites have started brightly enough, with their second-round win over Bears at Ashton Gate the obvious highlight.

This week they tackle a Bath outfit still hurting from their shock 10-point home defeat to the same Bristol, which could be their biggest test of the campaign.

Johann van Graan’s title-chasers would have been gutted at their round three result at The Rec, and one would think that nothing short of a rousing comeback would be the order of the day when they travel to Gloucester here.

For a team with such lofty ambitions, they’ll be champing at the bit to make right the wrongs of last week.

Verdict: Bath on the minus

Bath to put in a far more comprehensive showing this week.

81/100 Leicester Tigers | Draw 20/1 | Northampton Saints 21/20

After losing out to Bath at Welford Road, Leicester put 40 on the Falcons to get back to winning ways in style ahead of this huge showdown with Northampton.

If Tigers truly want to be a factor this season, knocking over the defending champions here would put them right on course and we will likely have a far better gauging of just where this team is at come the final whistle on Saturday.

The Saints did well to edge Harlequins 33-29 after being 22-14 down at halftime and will face another proper challenge in the form of Leicester.

It’s probably fair to say we haven’t yet seen the best of Phil Dowson’s charges this season, but this encounter against the Tigers might just bring that out of them.

Verdict: Saints

Get on Northampton to continue to pick up momentum by downing this highly motivated Leicester lineup.

Sunday 13 October

24/10 Harlequins | Draw 20/1 | Saracens 7/20

Handicap

Harlequins (+7.5) 17/20 | Saracens (-7.5) 17/20

After he bagged a personal points tally of 19 against Northampton last week, Quins will look to Marcus Smith to conjure up even more magic as they search for their second win of the season when Saracens visit The Stoop.

The hosts’ two defeats so far were by the narrowest of margins, and one would think that, after letting slip a lead of eight points in round three, Tabai Matson will be targeting Sunday’s game against the perennial winners as the one to turn the tide.

Mark McCall’s men remain the only unbeaten side in the tournament after seeing off Exeter last week but will find more stiff competition in the form of a Quins outfit looking to translate their positive performances into wins.

Verdict: Harlequins to win

Get on Quins to deal Sarries their first defeat this term.

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