Northampton Saints vs Exeter Chiefs Prediction: Saints to edge Twickenham finale

The Gallagher Prem Final sees Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs going head-to-head at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon (3pm BST, live on ITV4 and TNT Sports 1).

Read on for my Northampton Saints vs Exeter Chiefs predictions, featuring the essential team news and match odds for the showdown at Twickenham.

Phil Dowson's Northampton topped the regular season standings and have produced an attacking tour de force throughout the season, but they have conceded at an alarming rate.

Exeter were the meanest defence over the regular season and have shown real guts across three successive weekends to reach Twickenham.

The Chiefs came from 26 points down at half-time to draw at Franklin's Gardens in September, while Northampton were 35-28 winners at Sandy Park in April.

Northampton Saints vs Exeter Chiefs Odds

Northampton are favourites at 4/9 to land their second Gallagher Prem crown in three years. Exeter won the second of their two titles in 2020 and are priced at 9/5 for victory here.

These two teams drew in the league in September and a repeat can be backed at 22/1.

The handicap line is set at seven points, with the Saints priced at 20/21 to overcome that and the handicap tie paying 20/1. Exeter are 5/6 with a seven-point start.

Team News

Saints have scrum-half Archie McParland making his 50th appearance alongside fly-half Fin Smith. Outside them, Scotland international Rory Hutchinson and Tom Litchfield are in midfield, with captain George Furbank starting at full-back and George Hendy and Tommy Freeman completing the back three.

The front row comprises Emmanuel Iyogun, Curtis Langdon and Elliot Millar Mills, while Ed Prowse partners Alex Coles in the engine room as Josh Kemeny, Tom Pearson and Henry Pollock complete Saints' unchanged starting XV from the win over Leicester.

Exeter welcome back England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso following his recovery from a facial fracture. On the opposite side, Campbell Ridl is fit despite coming off in the win against Bath.

Scrum-half Stephen Varney and fly-half Harvey Skinner are joined by departing Wallabies international Len Ikitau and in-form Henry Slade as centres, with Olly Woodburn in the number 15 jersey completing the back three with Feyi-Waboso and Ridl.

Loosehead Scott Sio packs down in the front row with tighthead Josh Iosefa-Scott and hooker Max Norey. Skipper Dafydd Jenkins and Andrea Zambonin are in the second row with hard-hitting trio Ethan Roots, Tom Hooper and Greg Fisilau completing the pack.

Northampton Saints to win by 1-12 points @ 2/1

The Gallagher Prem's most potent attack meets its most efficient defence in this decider in a contrast of styles.

Dowson's Saints can justify their tag as favourites but it's unlikely to be plain sailing. Often slow starters, Exeter pegged Northampton back from 33-7 down at the break for an unlikely draw at Franklin's Gardens in September and the Saints were last-minute 35-28 winners at Sandy Park in April

Exeter have lost four of six Prem finals, but five of those six games were decided by margins of eight points or fewer.

With wins over Leicester, Sarries and Bath in consecutive weekends to get here, Rob Baxter's side have shown their mettle. They are unlikely to get blown away.

George Furbank Anytime Tryscorer @ 19/10

Skipper Furbank will bring down the curtain on his Saints career as he gets set for a move to Harlequins and the 14-cap England international can mark it with a try.

He scored two of Saints' seven in their win over Leicester last weekend and Furbank will be aiming for his second Prem title with Northampton after being part of the squad that claimed the trophy in 2024.

He joined the Saints academy in 2015 and admits that a fairytale finish has been a "massive driving motivator" since his move was confirmed in April.

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