Northampton vs Harlequins prediction & rugby betting tips: Expect entertainment as Saints and Quins clash

Where to watch Northampton vs Harlequins

You can watch Northampton vs Harlequins on TNT Sports 1 at 7.45pm on Friday

Match prediction & best bet

Over 56.5 points
2pts 10-11 Paddy Power

Northampton vs Harlequins predictions

Both Northampton and Harlequins have made a bright start to the Premiership season, and given the history of high-scoring showdowns between the pair, there seems no reason to expect a departure from that script when they meet at Franklin's Gardens on Friday night.

Last season this match ended in a 36-33 thriller as the Saints just came out on top but Quins got their revenge in April, winning 41-32.

There were ten tries in both games, and those results were by no means a sudden jump as the previous eight meetings produced 63, 64, 63, 68, 56, and 78 points.

Neither team has quite hit those heights this season. Quins' opening match was a 12-11 defeat at Sale, although the Sharks are renowned for grinding out results and they had one of the strongest defences in the league last season.

This looks much more a meeting of equals – two attack-minded sides who have demonstrated a real cutting edge.

Northampton have last season's top tryscorer Ollie Sleightholme back in their line-up while Quins have moved England international Marcus Smith from fly-half to full-back as a second playmaker and this could be a rollercoaster ride under the Friday night lights.

In Friday's other Premiership match Sale host Gloucester, who stunned Bristol last week with a 44-41 victory at Ashton Gate. Gloucester coach George Skivington had been promising a more attacking mindset and his team delivered as winger Christian Wade scored a hat-trick of tries.

However, Bristol's matches last season were noticeably open and high-scoring and Gloucester face almost the complete opposite at the Salford Stadium, where hosts Sale are seven-point favourites.

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