Six Nations Preview: Top Try-Scorer
Yep, it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for. And after last year’s success in tipping Damien Penaud, hopefully, we can deliver for you again,
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.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Friday October 22nd
19:45
PREDICTION – SAINTS BY 12
WORCESTER WARRIORS
Saints will be looking to go hard at this one before their internationals disappear and should make it 12 home wins in a row against a Worcester side that is still way too generous in defence.
Northampton Saints: 15 Tommy Freeman, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Alex Waller, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Paul Hill, 4 David Ribbans, 5 Api Ratuniyarawa, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Lewis Ludlam (c), 8 Teimana Harrison
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Tom Wood, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Alex Coles
Worcester Warriors: 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Harri Doel, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Willi Heinz (C), 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Andrew Kitchener, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Kyle Hatherell, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Matt Kvesic.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Jack Owlett, 19 Joe Batley, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Oli Morris, 23 Noah Heward.
EXETER CHIEFS
Saturday October 23rd
15:00
PREDICTION – CHIEFS BY 25
LONDON IRISH
Exeter Chiefs have won 13 of their last 15 games against London Irish in the Premiership, with their last five wins against the Exiles all coming by 15+ points.
Buoyed by three straight wins, Rob Baxter’s men are starting to find their stride and don’t look particularly weakened by the changes in personnel from last week’s win against Wasps.
Verdict: Chiefs to easily overcome the 19-point handicap.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade (c), 12 Tom Hendrickson, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder; 1 Ben Moon, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Sam Nixon, 4 Will Witty, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Sam Skinner, 7 Richard Capstick, 8 Sam Simmonds
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Sean Lonsdale, 20 Don Armand, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Ollie Devoto
London Irish: 15 Tom Parton, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Nick Phipps; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Ollie Hoskins, 4 Steve Mafi, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Matt Rogerson (c), 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Albert Tuisue.
Replacements: 16 Mike Willemse, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 George Nott, 20 Jack Cooke, 21 Ben White, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 Benhard van Rensburg.
GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Saturday October 23rd
15:00
PREDICTION – GLOS BY 4
NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Home advantage might be the deciding factor in what looks like being the closest tie of the round on paper.
Abrasive Newcastle are still much stronger at home than away and for all the talent they possess out wide, they still don’t score enough tries to chalk up a good run of wins, whether in front of their own fans or not.
Verdict: Gloucester to shade a contrast of styles.
Gloucester: 15. Jason Woodward, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Jonny May, 10. Lloyd Evans, 9. Ben Meehan; 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin, 2. Jack Singleton, 3. Kirill Gotovtsev, 4. Freddie Clarke, 5. Matias Alemanno, 6. Ruan Ackermann, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Ben Morgan
Replacements: 16. Santiago Socino, 17. Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18. Fraser Balmain, 19. Andrew Davidson, 20. Jack Clement, 21. Stephen Varney, 22. Billy Twelvetrees, 23. Satiago Carreras
Newcastle Falcons: 15. Mike Brown, 14. Nathan Earle, 13. Ben Stevenson, 12. Pete Lucock, 11. Mateo Carreras, 10. Brett Connon, 9. Louis Schreuder; 1. Adam Brocklebank, 2. George McGuigan, 3. Trevor Davison, 4. Greg Peterson, 5. Philip van der Walt, 6. Callum Chick, 7. Will Welch, 8. Carl Fearns
Replacements: 16. Jamie Blamire, 17. Kyle Cooper, 18. Richard Palframan, 19. George Merrick, 20. Josh Basham, 21. Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 22. Joel Hodgson, 23. George Wacokecoke
HARLEQUINS
Saturday October 23rd
15:00
PREDICTION – QUINS BY 26
BATH RUGBY
Max Clark should add a bit more solidity to Bath’s midfield but free-scoring Quins will still find enough holes to do untold damage.
Bath still try and talk a good game but to be 45-0 down at half-time -albeit against Saracens – speaks volumes for where they are at as a side.
After a flat performance by their standards in losing up at Sale, Quins will be looking to turn on the style again and with Danny Care and Marcus Smith pulling the strings, we fancy Quins to win emphatically.
Verdict: Back Quins at -17 and go over 61.5 total match points.
Harlequins: 15. Tyrone Green, 14. Louis Lynagh, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Cadan Murley, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Will Collier, 4. Matt Symons, 5. Dino Lamb, 6. James Chisholm, 7. Tom Lawday, 8. Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: 16. Sam Riley, 17. Santiago Garcia Botta, 18. Simon Kerrod, 19. Hugh Tizard, 20. Luke Wallace, 21. Scott Steele, 22. Huw Jones, 23. Luke Northmore
Bath Rugby: 15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Max Clark, 11. Ruaridh McConnochie, 10. Orlando Bailey, 9. Joe Simpson; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Jacques du Toit, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Josh McNally, 5. Charlie Ewels, 6. Tom Ellis, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Jaco Coetzee
Replacements: 16. Tom Dunn, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. D’Arcy Rae, 19. Mike Williams, 20. Richard de Carpentier, 21. Ollie Fox, 22. Danny Cipriani, 23. Gabriel Hamer-Webb
LEICESTER TIGERS
Saturday October 23rd
15:00
PREDICTION – TIGERS BY 10
SALE SHARKS
Points will have to be hard-earned in this fixture between two sides with effective rush defences, hence the Unders/Over bar has been set at a low 46.5 points.
Having Lood de Jager, Jono Ross and Tom Curry in the loose five means Tigers won’t be in for an easy ride but the home side should eventually assert their authority.
Sale won’t lie down – and Manu Tuilagi will be revved up for this one on his old stomping ground – but a lot of their good rugby comes off nine, an area of the side where they have been hit by injuries, and they may struggle to score enough points to dent Tigers’ unbeaten record.
Verdict: Tigers to defy -6 handicap
Leicester Tigers: 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 Julián Montoya, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Marco van Staden, 8 Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Nephi Leatigaga, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 George Martin, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Matías Moroni.
Sale Sharks: 15. Simon Hammersley, 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Manu Tuilagi, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11. Marland Yarde, 10. Kieran Wilkinson, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Jono Ross (C), 7. Tom Curry, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Jean-Pierre du Preez, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Sam James.
SARACENS
Sunday October 24th
15:00
PREDICTION – SARRIES BY 24
WASPS
Coming soon.
Yep, it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for. And after last year’s success in tipping Damien Penaud, hopefully, we can deliver for you again,
Antoine Dupont is 5/1 to match Brian O’Driscoll’s record of three player of the Championship awards having previously picked up the award in 2020 and