Match Preview: Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
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The top two in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby table go head-to-head at Sandy Park on Saturday as Exeter Chiefs welcome leaders Northampton Saints.
Chiefs are looking to extend a 23-match unbeaten home run in all competitions but Saints will travel with confidence having entered 2024 top of the pile for the first time since November 2019.
Northampton have also emerged victorious on two of their last three visits to Devon.
TV: Live on TNT Sports, kick-off 3pm
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant Referees: George Selwood and Neil Chivers
TMO: David Rose
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stu Townsend; 1 Nika Abuladze, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Zack Wimbush
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank (c), 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tom Litchfield, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Callum Braley; 1 Tarek Haffar, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Alex Moon, 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Alex Coles, 7 Angus Scott-Young, 8 Sam Graham
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Tom Pearson, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Tommy Freeman
Oval Insights
Exeter Chiefs
- Henry Slade scored another four points last weekend, taking his league-leading tally to 91.
- Tom Wyatt has made more carry metres (699) and beaten more defenders (37) than any other player this season.
- Chiefs have scored more tries than any other team so far this season, a total of 43.
- Exeter Chiefs have the best gainline success rate in the Premiership (45%). They have also made more post-contact metres than any other team (1,277).
Northampton Saints
- Tommy Freeman beat eight defenders and made four clean breaks against Sale Sharks – both the highest of Round 10. No team has beaten as many Sharks defenders in a match as the Saints last weekend (39).
- Alex Mitchell made as many kicks in play as any other player in Round 10 (20) and the most kicking metres outright (605).
- Fin Smith assisted four breaks against the Sale Sharks – two more than any other player in Round 10 – two with passes, two with kicks.
- Saints have averaged the most offloads (10.3), clean breaks (9.8), and defenders beaten (23.3) per 80 minutes this season.
