Northampton Saints vs Toulon Prediction: Saints can bloom at the Gardens

After securing an impressive win at Glasgow Warriors in the opening round, Northampton Saints will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the European Champions Cup when they host Toulon on Friday night.

Saints managed to cope with the wet and wild weather at Scotstoun to inflict Glasgow’s first home defeat of the season and now have Toulon in their sights.

The Top 14 outfit suffered an agonising 19-18 defeat on their own patch at the hands of Exeter Chiefs and things won’t get easier for Toulon at Franklin’s Gardens this week.

Team news

Saints boss Phil Dowson has made six changes from the side that won north of the border at Glasgow for this next Pool 3 encounter.

George Hendy and Tom Seabrook form a new-look wing pairing alongside George Furbank in the back three.

Tom Litchfield has been brought into the centres to partner Tommy Freeman outside the half-backs Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell.

Props Ethan Waller and Trevor Davison have been brought into the starting XV in the front-row, while Temo Mayanavanua makes his first start for the Saints.

As for the visitors, Toulon have gone with Scotland international Ben White and Enzo Herve in the half-backs, while former Northampton second-row David Ribbans takes on his old employers.

Toulon will once again be captained by formidable France flanker Charles Ollivon, who is joined in the back-row by Esteban Abadie and Selevasio Tolofua.

Match Odds

Northampton are the favourites to come out on top in the East Midlands at 4/9 for the win.

Toulon are 9/5 to cause a shock at the Gardens, while a tie under the lights on Friday night is available at 20/1.

Looking to the handicap markets and Northampton are 11/10 to win with -7.5.

Double Result - Northampton Saints - Northampton Saints @ 10/11

Northampton head into this game in excellent form after wins in all of their last three games in all competitions.

It has been the calibre of opposition that Saints have overcome that has been most impressive, with a home win over Harlequins followed by victories on the road at Saracens and Glasgow.

In all three of those wins Northampton have come out of the blocks quickly in the first 40 and have been leading at the break.

Saints won’t want to let Toulon settle into this game at the Gardens on Friday night and expect the hosts to try and pile on the pressure from the off.

Smith has been outstanding from the kicking tee in recent weeks and his boot might well make the difference in this one.

Considering the recent trend of Northampton’s games, Saints to be leading at half-time and full-time looks to be the way to go here and is available at 10/11 in the double result market.

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