Wasps vs Northampton Saints Picks and Odds (May 29)
By Robert Duff in Rugby
Published:
- Northampton Saints are 5.5-point home favorites over Wasps in their Saturday, May 29th Rugby Premiership match
- Wasps are 2-1 in their last three matches, while Northampton have lost their last two matches
- The Saints were 22-17 winners at Wasps on February 6th
As they prepare to play host to Wasps in a Rugby Premiership match on Saturday, Northampton can feel fairly secure that their place in the European Champions Cup for next season is secure. Northampton (10-9-0) are fifth in the table, eight points clear of ninth place.
Wasps, though, could still be stung with a loss of the chance to compete on the continent. The club holds the eighth and final placing for European action next season. Wasps and ninth-place Bath are deadlocked at 42 points. Just ahead of them are Leicester Tigers (44 points) and London Irish (43).
Picking up some points at Northampton could prove vital for Wasps, but the oddsmakers don’t see it happening. Northampton are established as the 5.5-point home favorites for this match.
Wasps vs Northampton Saints Rugby Premiership Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasps | +170 | +5.5 (-113) | OFF |
| Northampton Saints | -225 | -5.5 (-113) | OFF |
Odds as of May 28th.
Saturday’s match is set to kickoff at 11:45am ET at Franklin’s Gardens.
Home-Field Disadvantage
The last three Rugby Premiership matches between the Saints and Wasps have all been won by the visiting side. Earlier this season on February 6th, Northampton won 32-26 at Wasps. Last season, Northampton also won 35-31 at Wasps, while Wasps were 34-21 winners at Franklin’s Gardens.
Overall, Wasps have come away with the victory on four of their last five visits to Franklin’s Gardens. They’ve won nine of the last 12 meetings with the Saints. Northampton hasn’t achieved a Premiership Rugby season’s double over their Midlands rivals since 2013-14.
With successive losses in their last two matches, the Saints are in danger of losing three in a row for the first time since opening the 2020-21 season 0-3.
The Saints are 4-4 in their last four home games. Wasps are 1-4 over their past five away matches.
Triple Century For Waller
Loosehead prop and co-captain Alex Waller will make history as he leads the side out to the pitch on Saturday. He’ll become the 24th player in Saints history to play 300 matches for the club. Lock Api Ratuniyarawa will also be reaching a milestone. He’ll be turning out for Northampton for the 100th time.
The Saints are instituting some key changes to the starting 15. England international flanker Courtney Lawes will be seeing his first action for the club since Dec 26th and just his third appearance of the season. He suffered a pectoral injury during the Six Nations.
https://twitter.com/SaintsRugby/status/1398231359647272962?s=20
Welsh international fly-half Dan Biggar is also back for the Saints after missing last week’s loss at Newcastle. Center Fraser Dingwall starts for the first time since mid-April. Wing Taqele Naiyaravoro and fullback Tommy Freeman also come into the side.
The Saints also announced that Samoan international second row Brandon Nansen would be joining the club next season from the Dragons.
Wasps Making Two Changes
Wasps are making minor alterations to the squad that won 23-19 last week over Worcester. They will institute two changes to the starting 15.
The only new switch to the backline will see Michael Le Bourgeois come in for the injured Malakai Fekitoa at inside center. Captain Brad Shields is moving to blind-side flanker. That will enable Tom Willis to return at number eight.
🗞️ TEAM NEWS 🗞️
Your Wasps side to face @SaintsRugby in @premrugby Round 2⃣0⃣…
🟡 @tomwillis12 returns
⚫️ Michael Le Bourgeois in for the injured @MalakaiFekitoa
🟡 Tom Cruse back amongst the replacements#COYW 🐝More at 👇 https://t.co/FBVZCPwGke
— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) May 28, 2021
Spare Tommy Taylor is out with back spasms. Tom Cruse returns from injury and takes his spot among the reserves.
The club announced this week that fullback Charlie Atkinson has extended his contract with Wasps.
- Pick: Wasps +5.5 (-113)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
