Saturday's Gallagher Premiership predictions & rugby betting tips: Big boys back to help Bath

Where to watch 

You can watch Bath vs Exeter on TNT Sports 1 at 5.45pm on Saturday.

Match predictions & best bets

Bath -11
1pt 10-11 bet365

Northampton -13
1pt 21-20 BoyleSports

Saturday's Premiership predictions

Recalling Ben Spencer and Finn Russell is a real luxury for Bath and it could spell trouble for Exeter at the Rec.

The pair were among Bath's international contingent, but while the fortunes of their respective nations have varied this autumn, England's Spencer and Scotland's Russell have proved to be the perfect half-back pairing domestically.

They helped Johann van Graan's side head into the Premiership break top of the standings and they will be looking to outwit the visiting Chiefs, who are the only team yet to win a league match.

Like Bath, Exeter have been ticking over in the Premiership Rugby Cup and are bolstered by the returns of England duo Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Their away defeats at Northampton and Newcastle were relatively close affairs but they have also been soundly beaten at Saracens. 

That could be a more instructive guide and Bath are fancied to successfully concede an 11-point handicap start.

In Saturday's earlier contest, Gloucester should improve on last season's 90-0 defeat at Northampton but are still likely to play second fiddle to the Saints on their latest visit to Franklin's Gardens.

Northampton lost their last Premiership game at Bristol and a poor start to the season has left them below the Cherry & Whites in the table.

The pair have also chopped and changed in the PRC but Northampton are unbeaten at home since going down to Bristol in October 2023 and have recalled star backs George Furbank, Fin Smith and Ollie Sleightholme.

Gloucester are fantastic to watch — no team was involved in games featuring more points during the first six rounds— but while they score tries, they also concede plenty, so it's tough to envisage anything other than a comfortable Saints success.

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