Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Premiership Rugby Cup match.
With one match remaining in the Premiership Rugby Cup group stage, Northampton Saints have all but secured top spot. A simple bonus point or four tries will suffice, but will they settle for the bare minimum?
Nottingham
Nottingham have long been consigned to last place in the group, and even a win here wouldn’t change that. They have lost all five previous matches with a staggering point differential of -155. The key issue has been their leaky defence, conceding far too many tries. The only close contest was their first-round match against Northampton Saints (29:31), where Nottingham led 26:5 after three consecutive tries before being completely outclassed in the second half.
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints showed their superior attacking variety in that first meeting, scoring in multiple ways—long-range breaks, diagonal kicks, and quick passing combinations. In contrast, Nottingham only scored through short-range drives. Northampton’s only stumble in the group came against Leicester (33:54) two rounds ago, but their qualification for the knockout stage is virtually assured.
Nottingham vs Northampton Saints Prediction
Despite the close scoreline in their first encounter, Nottingham lack consistency even at Championship level, losing two of their last four league matches. Northampton Saints should win comfortably, but their away form has been a concern, with no victories by more than nine points in their last 15 away games. A closer match than expected is likely, making the handicap on the hosts an appealing choice.
