Northampton Saints v Saracens: Prediction, Tips and Odds

A place at Twickenham is up for grabs on Friday when Northampton Saints host Saracens in the first of this season's Premiership Rugby semi-finals.

The Saints' did the double over Sarries on their way to topping the regular-season standings and it will be an emotional night at Franklin's Gardens, with Courtney Lawes, Alex Waller and Alex Moon leaving the club at the end of the season.

It is a similar story for Saracens, who lost their last game of the regular season against Sale to slip to fourth, losing out on a home semi-final, while they are also due to say goodbye to some of their big guns, with Owen Farrell and the Vunipola brothers among those heading out this summer.

It will be an emotionally-charged evening at the Gardens, but despite losing their most recent game against Bath, the momentum looks to be behind Northampton, and they can progress through to face either the Somerset club or Sale at Twickenham on 8th June.

Northampton Saints v Saracens betting tips and predictions

Northampton -6.5 - 6/5

Home advantage helped both Saracens and Sale reach Twickenham last season and Northampton can continue that trend on Friday.

The Saints have been excellent at the Gardens, losing just once at home this season, including defeating Saracens 41-30 in March.

They also beat Sarries at home last season (38-29), but lost to the same opponents in the play-offs.

That victory contributed to Saracens winning their sixth Twickenham Grand Final, but Farrell's and the Vunipolas' departures, combined with a few other off-field issues, suggest that this is the end of an era for the club.

In contrast, despite Lawes and others heading off, Saints look to be in great shape, spearheaded by recently-named Premiership Players' Player of the Year Fin Smith and the hosts can triumph in style.

Ollie Sleightholme anytime tryscorer - 21/20

Northampton wing Ollie Sleightolme was one of the few big guns to start the defeat at Bath and went into that game on the back of a hat-trick in the 90-0 win over Gloucester.

Sleightholme scored in both of his side's Premiership wins over Saracens, with those two scores contributing to his competition-leading 14 tries.

That was four more than any other player and he also scored in the Champions Cup quarter-final win over Bulls.

The 24-year-old was absent for the European semi-final defeat to Leinster due to the birth of his first child and the team clearly missed his scuttling runs.

His father Jon played for both Northampton and England and having established himself at Franklin's Gardens, another try on Friday will only further Sleightholme Jr's claims for international honours. 

Total points - over 59.5 - 13/8

Only Bristol (591) scored more points than Northampton (555) in the regular season. Interestingly, despite their reputation as arch-pragmatists, Sarries have shown more ambition in recent years and clocked up 522 points.

Semi-finals understandably tend to be tight affairs but the pair's play-off meeting last term tallied 53 points, while their last three meetings at Franklin's Gardens have all had 67 or more.

They include March's most recent match and although Saints have undoubtedly tightened up their defence under summer coaching recruit Lee Radford, they continue to play with the same expression that saw them amass 620 points last season, behind only, you guessed it, Sarries (622). 

The O/U points is set at 64 but ambition could be rewarded in looking at the alternative prices.

With over 54.5 available on the right side of 1/1 and value could be had in pushing further towards the 60-point mark in this game between two excellent attacks.

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Northampton Saints v Saracens odds

Northampton - 8/15
Tie - 20/1
Saracens - 13/8

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.