Saracens vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Tigers edge Sarries showdown

There are some cracking Premiership games on the schedule this week but Saturday’s clash between Saracens and Leicester Tigers is the pick of the bunch (17:30 kick-off).

Two of the most successful clubs in the English game, there is always some added spice when Sarries and the Tigers lock horns and this weekend’s showdown at StoneX Stadium should prove no different.

With Saracens topping the table after the first five rounds of fixtures, the Tigers are hot on their heels in third place with just two bonus points separating the sides.

Players joining up with England ahead of the Autumn Nations Series will have a significant impact on Saturday’s fixture and it’s a factor that should play into the hands of the visitors. Below you can find my Saracens vs Leicester Tigers predictions. 

Team News

Starting with the hosts, no less than seven players were called up to the England squad, with Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Jamie George, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Alex Lozowski and Elliot Daly now all unavailable for this Premiership clash.

Fergus Burke is still recovering from a hamstring issue so Alex Goode retains his place at fly-half outside Ivan Van Zyl in the half-backs.

Tom Parton comes in at full-back, to join a back-three that includes Rotimi Segun and Tobias Elliott.

In the forwards, Kapeli Pifeleti comes in for his first start of the season at hooker, while Rhys Carre has been ruled out due to illness.

As for Leicester, Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, George Martin, Freddie Steward and Jack van Poortvliet were also called up to the England squad.

In positive news, experienced full-back Mike Brown gets his first start of the season, along with Tom Whiteley and Tom Manz.

Former London Irish captain Matt Rogerson, having made 17 appearances last season, also returns to the Tigers’ matchday squad on the bench, where the flanker is joined by former England international scrum-half Ben Youngs.

Saracens vs Leicester Tigers Odds

Saracens are 4/9 to win on home turf, while Leicester are 15/8 to head back to the East Midlands with the victory.

A draw at StoneX Stadium is currently 20/1.

Leicester Tigers to win @ 21/10

This should be a tight encounter between two title contenders but the loss of key personnel is likely to hit Saracens harder than Leicester.

The Tigers have the luxury of having World Cup-winning fly-half Handre Pollard in the No.10 jersey this weekend, while there’s quality and experience in the back-three of Brown, Anthony Watson and Ollie Hassell-Collins.

Experience in the pack with skipper Julian Montoya and Joe Heyes in the front-row and lock Harry Wells in the engine room is another reason to fancy the Tigers to be the ones smiling come the full-time whistle on Saturday.

Losing the likes of George, Itoje, Earl and Daly would hurt any Premiership team and Leicester look good value to leave the capital with the spoils.