Exeter Chiefs vs Northampton Saints Prediction : Free-scoring visitors can flex their attacking muscles

Northampton Saints have propelled themselves to the top of the Premiership standings following a six-game winning run and they will be looking to strengthen their position with victory on the road at Exeter Chiefs.

The Chiefs sit fourth in the table after 12 rounds of fixtures and will pose a stern test given that they have lost just once at Sandy Park in all competitions this season. Exeter beat Saints 31-14 at home in the semi-final of Prem Rugby Cup in March and they came from 33-7 down to draw 33-33 in the September’s reverse fixture at Franklin’s Gardens.

Exeter Chiefs vs Northampton Saints Odds

Exeter are 5/6 to come out on top, while Northampton are 11/10 to escape with the victory.

The draw is priced at 16/1 which may tempt some after their meeting at Franklin’s Gardens in September ended 33-33.

Saints lost 43-41 at Bath in the quarter-final of the Champions Cup last weekend, having previously accounted for French side Castres 49-41, and it is 18/5 for this encounter to feature 71 or more points.

Team News

Following a late call-up to the starting line-up last weekend, Campbell Ridl again starts on the wing for Exeter Chiefs while Italian international Andrea Zambonin will be hoping to build on last weekend’s try-scoring display.

Dafydd Jenkins captains the side while Tom Hooper, Ross Vintcent and Greg Fisilau are selected to start in the back-row.

Paul Brown-Bampoe has recovered from his injury to return to the Chiefs bench alongside Ethan Roots.

Phil Dowson has made eight changes to his Northampton Saints side for their Premiership return at Exeter, with Alex Mitchell, Fraser Dingwall and George Hendy starting at scrum-half, centre and wing respectively.

Loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker Craig Wright come into the starting line-up, while Fin Smith stays on at fly-half and George Furbank captains the side from full-back.

A strong Saints bench includes British & Irish Lions pair Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman.

Northampton Saints to win @ 11/10

This is a contrast in styles as Premiership leaders Saints, who have run in 439 points and 65 tries to top the scoring charts, take on the division’s meanest defence in Exeter.

If any team has the running game to break down Exeter it is Northampton and, having won eight of their opening 10 league games, they are worth chancing at the prices.

The Chiefs excel at home, highlighted by their 31-19 victory over Bath in February, but the Saints are scoring points for fun and won 41-21 at Bath in December while also recording impressive road victories at Sale and Saracens.

71 or more points @ 11/4

Exeter came from an unthinkable position to draw 33-33 in Northampton on the opening weekend of the season and this should be another free-scoring encounter.

The Saints have one way of playing and look to blow the opposition away, having hit the 40-point mark in seven of their last 11 fixtures.

Exeter may be tougher to pass but they were pushed hard by Benetton in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final last week, winning 44-41, showing both teams can be explosive.

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