Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Saints set for another fast start

Northampton have raced into leads in both PREM matches this season, leading 33-7 only to draw 33-33 with Exeter and scraping home 37-35 at Gloucester after being 31-7 ahead at the break.

They next face Leicester in their Derby Round fixture, with the Tigers arriving after a 42-24 defeat at Bristol before coming from 19-0 down early in the second half to beat Harlequins 29-19 last Saturday. Read on for our Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers predictions.

The Tigers won 33-0 at Franklin's Gardens in March, backing up last October's 24-8 home win at Welford Road.

However, Northampton's big guns return for this game and they are worth supporting to make light work of the opening 40 again.

Still, the way the Saints have faltered in the second half of games suggests it might be closer than their dominance deserves, with Leicester winger Adam Radwan selected to make an impact.

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Tommy Freeman starts on the right wing in what will be his 100th Northampton appearance and is joined behind the scrum by fellow British & Irish Lions returnees Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith.

Fraser Dingwall is also back in at inside centre in a team captained by number eight Callum Chick, with another Lion, Henry Pollock, on the bench.

Forwards Hanro Liebenberg, Harry Wells, Tommy Reffell and centre Will Wand all start for Leicester at Franklin's Gardens.

Australian import James O'Connor is also available to make his Tigers debut off the bench.

Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tiger Odds

Northampton won 14 of 18 home games in all competitions last season and are 1/3 to get off the mark on Saturday. The Tigers are 5/2 for a first away success of the campaign, and the draw is 22/1.

There's an eight-point three-way handicap, with Leicester 1/1 when given that start.

First Half Handicap - Northampton -3.5 @ 5/6

After spurning the lead in drawing with Exeter, the Saints just held on at Gloucester, and it makes sense to back them to win the first half.

However, they are just 8/15 in the first half winner betting, so look to the associated handicap market, with their -3.5 deficit hardly insurmountable.

Mitchell, Smith and Dingwall's nine-10-12 playmaking axis should provide more control in the second half when Leicester might respond in a manner akin to their win over Quins.

However, they can also do some early damage, ensuring Saints go in ahead at the break with something to spare.

Adam Radwan anytime tryscorer @ 13/10

Any Leicester comeback could be inspired by Radwan, who has been electric since joining from Newcastle in January.

Radwan has scored a try in each of his games against Northampton since moving to the Tigers and also grabbed a brace in his team's opening round defeat at Bristol.

Defensive flaws mean he'll probably never get the chance to add to the two England caps he won in 2021, but there are few better runners with ball in hand, and he can prove a nuisance again.

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