Saracens vs Sale Prediction: Sarries too strong for Sharks
There’s a heavyweight clash to look forward to in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday (17:30 BST, TNT Sports 1) as third-placed Saracens host fourth-placed Sale Sharks at StoneX Stadium.
Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Saracens vs Sale prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in the capital.
Team News
Starting with the hosts, Sarries have opted for Eroni Mawi, Jamie George and Marco Riccioni in the front row, with skipper Maro Itoje and Hugh Tizard in the second row.
Juan Martin Gonzalez, Ben Earl and Tom Willis complete the pack, with Charlie Bracken and Fergus Burke in the half-backs.
Owen Farrell and Nick Tompkins go again in the centres, while Lucio Cinti, Noah Caluori and Max Malins start in the back three.
As for the Sharks, the visitors go with a front row of Bevan Rodd, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Ben Bamber and Hyron Andrews start in the second row, with skipper Ernst van Rhyn, Tristan Woodman and Sam Dugdale in the back row.
Gus Warr and George Ford combine in the half-backs, Marius Louw and Rob du Preez the centre partnership.
Arron Reed, Tom Roebuck and Tom O’Flaherty complete the backline in the back three for the Sharks.
Saracens are 2/9 for the win at home on Saturday, while Sale Sharks are 18/5 to head back to the north west with the victory.
A draw at StoneX Stadium is currently available at 20/1.
Saracens -11 handicap @ 11/10
Only one point separates Saracens and Sale in the table, with both sides winning two of their first three games.
Saturday will be a big day for Sarries skipper Itoje, as he prepares to make his 200th appearance for the club.
The England star, who skippered the British & Irish Lions to a series win in Australia over the summer, will be determined to make sure he hits the landmark in a winning game and there are many reasons to suggest it will be the home fans who are the ones smiling come the full-time whistle on Saturday.
Sarries have won five of their last six home games against Sale, who tend to be a side that have struggled on their travels.
The Greater Manchester outfit have suffered three defeats in their last four away games in the Gallagher Prem, while Sarries have won all of their last four home matches in this competition.
In Saracens’ last five home wins over the Sharks, the average winning margin has been 13 points and with that in mind, the host with a -11 handicap gets the nod at odds of 21/20 for this clash near the top of the Prem table.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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