Saturday's Premiership predictions and rugby union tips: Chiefs to come out hot

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Newcastle v Leicester and Exeter Chiefs v Northampton in the Premiership on Saturday.

Where to watch

Newcastle v Leicester
BT Sport 2, 2pm Saturday

Exeter v Northampton
BT Sport 2, 4.30pm Saturday

Best bets

Newcastle +3 2pm
1pt 10-11 general

Exeter -3 first half handicap 4.30pm
2pts 10-11 Coral, Ladbrokes

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Preview

Consistency is hard to come by outside the league’s top two in the Premiership this season, but Newcastle’s sustained talent for making life hard for opponents at Kingston Park makes them an intriguing bet for the visit of champions Leicester.

The Falcons have shown signs of progress in the league, becoming the first team to win at Gloucester this season before claiming the scalps of Exeter and Sale on home soil.

An influx of Argentinian talent - forward Pedro Rubiolo became the latest Puma to move to the north-east this week - has made Newcastle a more competitive entity than in recent campaigns and there appears genuine belief they can knock off the champions.

The Tigers have won the last six league meetings with Newcastle but have become tough to trust. They’ve thrown away sizeable leads at Bath and Bristol this season, while their last road engagement saw them crushed 40-5 by Sale.

Interim head coach Richard Wrigglesworth has responded to the Sale loss by making sweeping changes and with so many unknowns about Leicester right now, preference is to take Newcastle and the points.

The second part of Saturday’s televised double-header sees Northampton go to Exeter, who should produce a positive response following a bruising loss at Saracens.

The Chiefs were no match for Sarries but back on home soil, where they’ve won 13 of their last 15 games in all competitions, they could prove too strong for travel-sick Northampton.

The Saints have lost all five of their away games - their sole road win at defunct Wasps has been wiped off the board - and they are missing key men as they attempt to follow up a 46-17 demolition of Harlequins.

Expect Exeter, boosted by the return of Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds, to start quickly in an effort to erase memories of their painful New Year’s Eve at Saracens.

Exeter have been ahead at the break in four of their five home league games this season by an average margin of 15.25 points and it’s well within their reach to cover a three-point first-half handicap.

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