The Gallagher Premiership clubs will be looking to make the most of their final matchday ahead of the November international break, with the weekend’s standout fixtures seeing Bears host Saints and Tigers visit Sarries.
Friday 25 October
29/100 Bristol Bears | Draw 20/1 | Northampton Saints 28/10
Handicap
Bears (-7.5) 17/20 | Saints (+7.5) 17/20
After playing so well at home against Saracens in round five, and even leading 32-17 at one stage, Bristol will be thoroughly disappointed at having let the game slip in the final kick of the contest. Still, they sit in fourth place, just three points off log-leading Sarries, and would be even better placed with a win over defending champions Northampton.
Saints breezed past Sale Sharks 47-17 last week to occupy fifth following their
indifferent start to the campaign. This marks one of their toughest tests yet and coming away from Ashton Gate with a victory would be the perfect way for Phil Dowson and his side to enter the November break.
Verdict: Bristol
Get on the hosts to edge Northampton in what should be a very tight contest.
Saturday 19 October
1/16 Gloucester | Draw 33/1 | Newcastle Falcons 15/2
Handicap
Gloucester (-17.5) 17/20 | Newcastle (+17.5) 17/20
After leading Leicester 19-8 at halftime at Welford Road last week, Gloucester were eventually edged 26-29 in a thriller. While they will be downcast at not having got the job done, they can take plenty of learnings from that encounter and should be stronger for it going forward.
Falcons’ 24-18 win over Exeter at Kingston Park last week finally put an end to their 25-game losing streak – the longest in the history of the competition – that stretched back 581 days. Now with that “monkey off the back” as director of rugby Steve Diamond described it, the club will be hoping for more positive results coming their way soon, starting with this one at the Kingsholm.
Verdict: Gloucester
The Cherry and Whites looked so good at Leicester and should down Newcastle with a similar performance.
21/100 Bath | Draw 22/1 | Sale Sharks 36/10
Handicap
Bath (-9.5) 17/20 | Sale (+9.5) 17/20
Bath rescued a late win at the Stoop last week thanks in large part to tries through Saffa props Thomas du Toit and Francois van Wyk. That resilience will stand them in good stead ahead of the challenges still to come this season, and right now it looks as though Johann van Graan’s men will be hard to stop this season.
Sale were beaten by 30 points at Franklin’s Gardens last week which will take some coming back from. They should rebound in time but this matchup at the Rec seems a bridge too far.
Verdict: Bath on the minus
Bath to clear the handicap against the Mancunian club.
43/100 Saracens | Draw 22/1 | Leicester Tigers 2/1
Handicap
Saracens (-6.5) 17/20 | Leicester (+6.5) 17/20
Alex Lozowski kicked a last-minute penalty to rescue Saracens against Bristol last week in an absolute humdinger at Ashton Gate. Mark McCall called the win one of the most special during his time in charge of the club, and they will need to call on all of that vigour to hold off red-hot Tigers here and remain in the top spot heading into the international break.
Leicester’s comeback win over Gloucester last week was their third victory in a row. Although some questions will be asked about how they nearly succumbed to the perennial strugglers, they ultimately got the result and will be chomping at the bit at the chance to down Sarries at home.
Verdict: Leicester to win
Get on Tigers to claim what would be a seismic victory at Saracens.
Sunday 20 October
46/100 Exeter Chiefs | Draw 20/1 | Harlequins 19/10
Handicap
Chiefs (-4.5) 17/20 | Quins (+4.5) 17/20
Chiefs remain winless this season, though their five-log points do mean they occupy ninth, one spot above the Falcons outfit that beat them at Kingston Park last week. Becoming the first team to lose to Newcastle since March 2023 will do Rob Baxter’s side’s confidence no favours, and they simply must respond forcefully here.
Quins fell to their third defeat of the campaign against Bath last time out and will face stiff competition against such a wounded Exeter team on Sunday. They will look to Rodrigo Isgro, the Argentine winger who grabbed a double in his debut against Bath, for more inspiration as they look to avoid falling further behind the front-runners.
Verdict: Exeter to win
Get on the hosts to collect their first win and heap more pressure on Harlequins.
