Northampton v Wasps predictions & rugby union tips: Odogwu to enjoy Gardens trip

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Northampton Saints v Wasps in the Gallagher Premiership on Sunday.

Where to watch

ITV & BT Sport 2, 3pm Sunday

Best bet

Paolo Odogwu to score a try
1pt 15-8 Coral, Ladbrokes

Match preview

Pressure creates diamonds and Wasps may have one among their ranks in the shape of Paolo Odogwu, who could play a pivotal role in this vital trip to Northampton.

With seven rounds of the regular season to go in the Premiership you could throw a blanket over the nine teams who are scrapping it out for a playoff berth. However, Wasps and Northampton are the two sides most in danger of slipping out of the picture after a string of defeats.

Saints have lost four in a row in the league and have met with defeat in seven of their last eight games in all competitions at Franklin’s Gardens. Wasps, meanwhile, went into a bye week on the back of two straight reverses and have found life on the road tough, losing seven of the previous eight away engagements.

With form guides like that it’s no wonder bookmakers are struggling to split the pair with Wasps marginal one-point favourites for a game neither can afford to lose. With the stakes so high, picking a winner is not easy and punters are instead advised to look at the tryscorer markets with the points likely to flow.

No member of the top nine has allowed more tries than Wasps' tally of 61 with Northampton's defence being breached 55 times, including giving up four or more tries in three of their last four games.

Containing Odogwu could prove problematic for Northampton and the Wasps winger looks a decent bet to bag his fifth try in his last five Premiership outings.

Odogwu only returned from a serious knee injury in January, which he coincidentally sustained on Wasps' most recent visit to Franklin’s Gardens last May.

However, the 25-year-old had previously been on the fringes of the England team and can press his claims for a recall by notching what would be a poignant try at the scene of his setback.

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