Since beating Northampton 32-23 on the opening day of the season, Sale have not been involved in a game of 50-points plus.
Part of that is down to their own defence but also their own failings in making the most of some talented outside backs. Irish can defend for their lives too, which is why we’re inclined to go UNDER 46.5 points (5/6, Paddy Power).
All three of Saturday’s Premiership matches were free-scoring try-fests but this has a much tighter feel to it and the sides looked relatively well-matched, too.
Irish have lost on all seven previous occasions they have visited AJ Bell Stadium, and snapping that run might be just beyond them although they look a decent handicap bet with a seven-point start.
Saints to pull off a shock?
Bristol have managed two one-point wins, against struggling Worcester and Gloucester, and a high-scoring draw against London Irish in their last three away games so they’ve hardly been in scintillating form away from Ashton Gate.
With the jury still out on fourth-choice fly-half Tiff Eden, this could be a golden opportunity for Saints to take the scalp of the league leaders (at a best price of 6/5).
Relative to their form when Callum Sheedy and Ioan Lloyd are pulling the strings at 10, Bristol looked as wooden in attack as the posts Eden kept hitting with his goal-kicking, in the early stages of their 37-20 win over Wasps last time out.
They eventually clicked into gear against a Wasps team down on its luck but they could be vulnerable against a Saints side that will have taken a lot of confidence from their 17-14 win against Sale Sharks at the Gardens.
With the likes of Mikey Hayward and Piers Francis in reserve, Saints’ bench wouldn’t look out of place in the starting XV so expect the home side to finish strongly. A HT/FT result of Bristol/Northampton is 8/1 (Betfred).
