Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Premiership Rugby match.
After a near two-month pause in Premiership Rugby due to the Premiership Cup and the Six Nations, England’s top domestic competition finally returns. And it does so in style with the fierce East Midlands derby—one of the oldest rivalries in the sport.
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints have the slight advantage of match sharpness, having played three weeks ago in the Premiership Cup semi-final, unlike Leicester Tigers, whose last outing was in mid-February. However, that game ended in a surprising 26:43 loss to Championship side Ealing Trailfinders, with Northampton fielding a heavily rotated side due to national team call-ups. Four of their England internationals will return for this clash, but key players Tommy Freeman and Alex Mitchell are unavailable due to mandatory rest following the Six Nations. Worse still, wing Ollie Sleightholme, who scored two tries for England against Italy, is sidelined long term following ankle surgery.
Leicester Tigers
Leicester City have concerns of their own. Head coach Michael Cheika has confirmed that Ollie Chessum and George Martin—both of whom played key roles in England’s Six Nations campaign—will miss the match due to injury. That weakens Leicester significantly in the lineout, where they’ll be stretched. The Tigers don’t have as many current England internationals in their ranks, relying instead on seasoned veterans like Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, whose international days are largely behind them. The squad is built around experienced foreign imports, but the lack of match fitness after the long break could be an issue.
Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers Prediction
Despite being eighth in the table, Northampton Saints look to have the edge here. They beat Leicester Tigers (31:12) earlier this season at Franklin’s Gardens in the Premiership Cup and were on a five-match home winning streak prior to the Ealing slip-up. With a few more internationals returning and home-field advantage on their side, the Saints should have enough to edge their local rivals once again.
