Upcoming Match-ups
Tmrw
25
Apr
7:00 PM
CLE
ORL
+1
-1
199.5
7:30 PM
NY
PHI
+4.5
-4.5
203
10:00 PM
DEN
LAL
-1
+1
216.5
Friday
26
Apr
5:30 PM
MIL
IND
+5.5
-5.5
223.5
8:00 PM
LAC
DAL
+4.5
-4.5
209.5
10:30 PM
MIN
PHO
+4
-4
207.5

London Irish vs Northampton Saints Odds and Picks

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in Rugby

Updated Oct 1, 2021 · 9:14 PM PDT

London Irish fan cheering in the stands
A spectator shouts during the first half of an Aviva Premiership rugby match between the Saracens and the London Irish at Red Bull Arena, Saturday, March 12, 2016, in Harrison, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
  • The Northampton Saints are 8.5-point home favorites over London Irish in their Gallagher Rugby Premiership match on Saturday, October 2
  • Northampton are off to a 2-0 start to the season
  • London Irish are 0-1-1 thus far in 2021

Two matches into the Gallagher Rugby Premiership season, the Northampton Saints are marching onward. The London Irish are refusing to give up.

Northampton are off to a 2-0 start. That is including an impressive 26-24 triumph last week away to the Exeter Chiefs, last season’s championshop finalists. Saints won on a late penalty by George Furbank.

The Exiles put on a show of their own last week. Playing in front of their home fans for the first time in more than a year, London Irish came storming back from a 31-14 halftime deficit to earn a 31-31 draw with Sale Sharks.

It’s the Saints who the oddsmakers are going with in this match, however. The home side are 8.5-point favorites over London Irish.

London Irish vs Northampton Saints Odds

Team Moneyline Spread
London Irish +230 +8.5 (-115)
Northampton Saints -300 -8.5 (-110)
Draw +2000

Odds as of October 1st at DraftKings.

Kickoff for Saturday’s match is set for 9am ET at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. The weather forecast is calling for rain, 8 mph wind and a temperature of 59 degrees.

Saints Adding Some Big Names

Even though they’re permitted to rest until mid-October due to international rugby regulations, two members of the British and Irish Lions who spent the summer touring South Africa are set to make their season debut with the Saints on Saturday.

Both Welsh international fly-half Dan Biggar and England international second-row forward Courtney Lawes are both in the team selection. Biggar will start, with Lawes suiting up as a sub.

 

Along with Biggar, other changes will see #8 Nick Auterac, prop Paul Hill and prop Juarno Augustus coming into the side. Props Ehren Painter and Alex Waller , #8 Teimana Harrison, and fly-half James Grayson are out from the side that defeated Exeter.

Centers Piers Francis (shoulder) and Rory Hutchinson (neck) are both nearing match fitness as well.

Rugby World Cup 2023 Odds Tracker
Read More

London Irish Welcome Back Loader

Winger Ben Loader is returning from injury and will make his first start of the season on Saturday for London Irish. The Exiles are currently ninth in the table among 13 sides.

Scrum-half Nick Phipps is also back in the side following his own battle with injury.

London Irish are proving to be a second-half club this season. Along with their 17-point rally against Sale, the Exiles scored 19 of their points in the second half during their season-opening 36-24 loss to Worcester.

Saints Go Marching On

A year ago, the Saints also traveled to Exeter and fashioned a gritty 13-12 verdict over the Chiefs at Sandy Park. Then they came home and took a pratfall, losing to Bath.

That’s an important memory for Northampton to keep in mind against a London Irish side that proved to Sale last week that they’re never quite finished off.

Northampton play three of its next four matches at home, so the Saints are poised to get off to a solid start to the Gallagher Premiership season.

The last time these two sides met, Northampton were 44-26 winners on April 26. Look for the Saints to get the win but take the Exiles and the 8.5 points.

Pick: London Irish +8.5 (-115)

Author Image