Pau vs Northampton Saints Prediction: Pau can give Saints a scare

Northampton Saints kick-start their European Rugby Champions Cup with a challenging trip to the Stade du Hameau on Sunday (13:00, Premier Sports 2) to face a dangerous Pau side who are flying high in the Top 14 this season.

Rugby Union odds

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Pau start with a front row of Alexandre Etchebéhère, Julián Montoya and Jon Zabala Arrieta.

Thomas Jolmès and Rémi Picquette start in the second row, while Sacha Zegueur, Loïc Credoz and Facundo Isa complete the pack.

Dan Robson and Axel Despérès combine in the half-backs, with Nathan Decron and Jack Maddocks starting in the centres.

The Pau backline is completed with the trio of Clément Laporte, Grégoire Arfeuil and Aymeric Luc in the back three.

Meanwhile, Northampton go with Danilo Fischetti, Craig Wright and Trevor Davison in the front row, with Alex Coles and JJ van der Mescht in the engine room.

Josh Kemeny, Tom Pearson and Callum Chick complete he pack, while Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith form a familiar half-back pairing.

Fraser Dingwall and Rory Hutchinson combine in the centres, while Saints go with a back three of George Hendy, James Ramm and skipper George Furbank.

Match Odds

Pau are the 15/8 underdogs for Sunday’s showdown, while Northampton are the 4/9 favourites to head back across the Channel with the victory.

A draw at the Stade du Hameau is currently available at 18/1.

Pau +4 handicap @ 11/10

It’s hard to know where Northampton are at right now, as their recent form would suggest the Saints have gone off the boil. With three straight defeats, the form does not look good; however, there are mitigating circumstances.

Two of those games against Newcastle Red Bulls and Leicester Tigers were in the Prem Rugby Cup without a host of first-team players, while their 46-12 defeat at Bristol Bears last time out was hugely impacted by a red card for Todaro in the second minute of the game at Ashton Gate.

Expect Northampton to have had one eye on this game against Pau and a much better performance can be expected from Phil Dowson’s men. However, Pau are great value with the +4 handicap and that’s the selection for Sunday’s game.

Pau are up in second place in the Top 14 standings and have a growing contingent of players who are starting to get recognition at Test level with France.
Winning five of their last six games in the Top 14, while also winning all of their previous eight games at home, Paul, with the +4 handicap, gets the go-ahead.

Rugby Union betting tips from Betfred Insights.