The Rugby Tipster keeps you up-to-date with the latest on each round of matches in the Gallagher Premiership. Our in-depth knowledge of form and team selection can guide your rugby betting selections and get you the best rugby odds.
BRISTOL BEARS
Friday September 17th
19:45
PREDICTION – BEARS BY 6
SARACENS
Opening round fixtures can be unpredictable at the best of times.
Look at last season. Newcastle, newly promoted from the Championship, won at Bath, Worcester actually won a game, and perhaps most surprisingly, given what happened at Twickenham in June, Exeter routed Quins 33-3 at the Twickenham Stoop. Who’d have thought then that the two would meet again in the final and it would be the Londoners who’d have the upper hand!
This season’s opening match is also very hard to call given both sides will be so emotionally driven. The Bears will have a huge crowd cheering them on, while for pantomime season villains, Saracens, it is time to show the Premiership what they have been missing after a year in the Champ.
Ben Earl makes a swift return to Ashton Gate, where they proved so popular on loan, but the fact that Saracens are still missing their Lions contigent, our money is going on the Bears.
Both teams have quality back lines on show, it is upfront where Sarries look a little bit weak, certainly in the front-five.
Bristol: 15 Charles Piutau; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Alapati Leiua, 11. Ioan Lloyd; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. Max Lahiff, 4. Ed Holmes, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: 16. Will Capon, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Jake Armstrong, 19. Dave Attwood, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Niyi Adeolokun.
Saracens: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Dom Morris, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Alex Lozowski, 9 Aled Davies; 1 Ralph Adams-Hale, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Tim Swinson, 6 Jackson Wray (c), 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Manu Vunipola, 23 Ben Harris
LEICESTER TIGERS
Saturday September 18th
15:00
PREDICTION – Tigers by 7
EXETER CHIEFS
Injuries and unavailabilities have deprived last season’s beaten finalists of a number of key players, not least top try-scorer Sam Simmonds, whereas the Tigers appear to be close to full strength.
We expect Steve Borthwick’s men to send out a statement of intent to the rest of the league in a game that probably won’t be quite a fluid as the last encounter between the sides, which ended in a 47-31 win for the Chiefs.
Leicester: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Ellis Genge (c), 2 Nic Dolly, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 6 George Martin, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Hanro Liebenberg
Replacements: 16 Tom Cowan-Dickie, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Ollie Chessum, 21 Jack van Poortvliet, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Guy Porter
Exeter: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Jack Innard, 3 Harry Williams, 4 Will Witty, 5 Sean Lonsdale, 6 Jannes Kirsten, 7 Don Armand, 8 Rus Tuima
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Sam Nixon, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Christ Tshiunza, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Tom Hendrickson
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Saturday September 18th
15:00
PREDICTION – SAINTS BY 10
GLOUCESTER
With fans back at Franklin’s Gardens, we’re backing Saints win an ecnounter between two sides who’ll be looking for fast starts.
Neither team got the results they would have hoped for in the early stages of last season and Northampton are desperate to rectify their terrible home form.
Both sides like to play with attacking intent and Saints should be into their rhythm quicker looking at the established combinations they have in their line-up.
Northampton: 15 George Furbank; 14 Matt Proctor; 13 Fraser Dingwall; 12 Rory Hutchinson; 11 Tom Collins; 10 James Grayson; 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Alex Waller; 2 James Fish; 3 Ehren Painter; 4 David Ribbans; 5 Alex Moon; 6 Tom Wood; 7 Lewis Ludlam (capt); 8 Teimana Harrison
Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood; 17 Nick Auterac; 18 Paul Hill; 19 Api Ratuniyarawa; 20 Juarno Augustus; 21 Connor Tupai; 22 Ahsee Tuala; 23 Alex Coles
Gloucester: 15. Kyle Moyle; 14. Jonny May; 13. Tom Seabrook; 12. Billy Twelvetrees; 11. Ollie Thorley; 10. Lloyd Evans; 9. Ben Meehan; 1. Harry Elrington; 2. Jack Singleton; 3. Fraser Balmain; 4. Ben Morgan; 5 Andrew Davidson; 6. Jordy Reid; 7. Lewis Ludlow (c); 8. Jack Clement
Replacements: 16. Henry Walker; 17. Jamal Ford-Robinson; 18. Kirill Gotovtsev; 19. Freddie Clarke; 20. Ruan Ackermann; 21. Stephen Varney; 22. Adam Hastings; 23. Giorgi Kveseladze
WORCESTER WARRIORS
Saturday September 18th
15:00
PREDICTION – WARRIORS BY 4
LONDON IRISH
A repeat of last season’s opening round fixture but will the result be the same? Warriors won 11-10 on that occasion in what proved to be their only victory on the pitch in 2020/21. They have strengthened their squad considerably sicne then with the addition of experienced half-backs, Willi Heinz, Will Chudley and Owen Williams and all three appear in the matchday 23. Lions duo, Duhan van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland are rested.
Irish have been relatively quiet on the recruitment front and finished last season on a downward spiral. For a side that promises so much on paper, they tend not to deliver and home advantage, and the injection of new talent in key positions, may just be enough to hand the Warriors another round one win.
Worcester Warriors: 15 Melani Nanai, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Perry Humphreys, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Willi Heinz (CC); 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Kyle Hatherell, 5 Justin Clegg, 6 Ted Hill (CC), 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Matt Kvesic
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Mark Thomas, 18 Jack Owlett, 19 Matt Garvey, 20 Graham Kitchener, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Oli Morris.
London Irish: 15 Tom Parton, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben White; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 4 Rob Simmons, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Matt Rogerson (c), 7 Ben Donnell, 8 Albert Tuisue
Replacements: 16 Matt Cornish, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 George Nott, 20 Seán O’Brien, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Matt Williams, 23 James Stokes
SALE SHARKS
Saturday September 18th
17:00
PREDICTION – SHARKS BY 14
BATH RUGBY
With the sun out, the optimism of a new season and Danny Cipriani’s returnIing to one of his old clubs, the script suggests that this won’t be the snooze-fest that it normally is.
Sale v Bath encounters have largely been dirges of late but this one should buck the trend. Bath’s defence was woeful at times last season and the Sharks have the power to be able to punch holes in it.
Bath have been working on a new attacking shape and it may take time for Super Rugby coach David Williams’ methods to bed in.
The Blue, Black and Whites also go into the season without their talisman, Zach Mercer, who is currently earning rave reviews at Montpellier. Without him, much rests on the fragile shoulders of Cipriani to inspire Bath with ball in hand.
Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Sam James, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Robert du Preez. 9 Raffi Quirke; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 JP du Preez, 6 Cameron Neild, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Jono Ross (c)
Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Cal Ford, 19 Reuban Birch, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Keiran Wilkinson, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg
Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Will Muir, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Johannes Jonker, 4, Mike Williams, 5 Charlie Ewels (c), 6 Miles Reid, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Josh Bayliss
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Tom Ellis, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Ollie Fox, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Max Clark
NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Sunday September 19th
15:00
PREDICTION – Falcons by 5
HARLEQUINS
A prediction based purely on gut instinct because, on paper, Quins should have the beating of the Falcons! Quins also always seem to struggle when visiting the north east, losing five out of their last six at Kingston Patk.
Newcastle Falcons: 15. Tom Penny, 14. Adam Radwan, 13. Ben Stevenson, 12. Pete Lucock, 11. Iwan Stephens, 10. Brett Connon, 9. Louis Schreuder; 1. Logovi’i Mulipola, 2. George McGuigan, 3. Trevor Davison, 4. Greg Peterson, 5. Sean Robinson, 6. Philip van der Walt, 7. Will Welch (captain), 8. Carl Fearns.
Replacements: 16. Jamie Blamire, 17. Kyle Cooper, 18. Mark Tampin, 19. Marco Fuser, 20. Connor Collett, 21. Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 22. Will Haydon-Wood, 23. George Wacokecoke.
Harlequins: 15. Tyrone Green, 14. Louis Lynagh, 13. Joe Marchant, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Cadan Murley, 10. Tommy Allan, 9. Danny Care; 1. Santiago Garcia Botta, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Simon Kerrod, 4. Matt Symons, 5. Dino Lamb, 6. Tom Lawday, 7. Jack Kenningham, 8. Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: 16. Sam Riley, 17. Joe Marler, 18. Craig Trenier, 19. Hugh Tizard, 20. Archie White, 21. Scott Steele, 22. Huw Jones, 23. Luke Northmore
