Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
By thechiefstribe.com
April 15 2026
TEAMS, MATCH INFORMATION, PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD AND SCORE PREDICTIONS
Saturday 18 April 2026 at 3.05 p.m. at Sandy Park, Exeter
Please post your score predictions in this thread
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Discussion started by thechiefstribe.com (IP Logged), 17/04/2026 09:32
17/04/2026 09:32
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Exeter Chiefs:
15 Olly Woodburn
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Will Rigg
11 Campbell Ridl
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney
1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Jimmy Roots
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Andrea Zambonin
6 Tom Hooper
7 Ross Vintcent
8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements:
16 Joseph Dweba
17 Ethan Burger
18 Bachuki Tchumbadze
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Ethan Roots
21 Tom Cairns
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Paul Brown-Bampoe
15 Olly Woodburn
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Will Rigg
11 Campbell Ridl
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney
1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Jimmy Roots
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Andrea Zambonin
6 Tom Hooper
7 Ross Vintcent
8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements:
16 Joseph Dweba
17 Ethan Burger
18 Bachuki Tchumbadze
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Ethan Roots
21 Tom Cairns
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Paul Brown-Bampoe
Northampton Saints
15 George Furbank (c)
14 George Hendy
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Craig Wright
3 Cleopas Kundiona
4 Ed Prowse
5 Tom Lockett
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Sam Graham
8 Callum Chick
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Tom West
18 Elliot Millar Mills – 50th Saints appearance
19 JJ Van Der Mescht
20 Henry Pollock
21 Archie McParland
22 James Pater
23 Tommy Freeman
15 George Furbank (c)
14 George Hendy
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Craig Wright
3 Cleopas Kundiona
4 Ed Prowse
5 Tom Lockett
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Sam Graham
8 Callum Chick
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Tom West
18 Elliot Millar Mills – 50th Saints appearance
19 JJ Van Der Mescht
20 Henry Pollock
21 Archie McParland
22 James Pater
23 Tommy Freeman
Match Officials
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday
Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze from the north northwest
Temperature 14 degrees but feels like 13 degrees
Low chance of Precipitation
Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze from the north northwest
Temperature 14 degrees but feels like 13 degrees
Low chance of Precipitation
TV Coverage
Channel 408 TNT Sports 1 SD from 1500 - 1715
Channel 430 TNT Sports 1 HD from 1500 - 1715
Also available on HBO Max
Channel 408 TNT Sports 1 SD from 1500 - 1715
Channel 430 TNT Sports 1 HD from 1500 - 1715
Also available on HBO Max
Can't make it as there's a family event on in Teignmouth but going to lean towards optimism...
Chiefs 35 Northampton 34
Chiefs 35 Northampton 34
Tough to call - 2 great teams but our home advantage tapered by less rest than Saints after a tough gane last Sunday- however i’ll back us to win- just !!!
This is gonna be a close one, their bench is stronger than ours and that could well be the difference.
However, home advantage with a good sized crowd can overcome that.
Chiefs 31 Saints 26
However, home advantage with a good sized crowd can overcome that.
Chiefs 31 Saints 26
Should be a great contest and hopefully with a good crowd behind us, it could well be a close encounter. Our short turnaround from Benetton and lack of depth in the squad to be able to rotate may catch up with us but I am sure we will give a good account of ourselves, most teams have totally underestimated the quality of our team and paid the penalty. Yes would love to have started with Ethan with his physical presence but hopefully if we are in it after 60m he could make a big difference.
Saints play an attractive brand of rugby but have challenges in defence which we may be able to exploit. Not sure I agree with comments our bench is weaker, but let’s wait and see, it’s an exciting time for us and Saints as we move towards the end of the season. Exeter 36 Saints 34. I really hope we see a good performance from the officiating team the game deserves it and may the best team win on the day.
Saints play an attractive brand of rugby but have challenges in defence which we may be able to exploit. Not sure I agree with comments our bench is weaker, but let’s wait and see, it’s an exciting time for us and Saints as we move towards the end of the season. Exeter 36 Saints 34. I really hope we see a good performance from the officiating team the game deserves it and may the best team win on the day.
I think we'll have the edge up front with the Sandy Park crowd behind us but their backs don't need much ball to score a lot of tries! In the past we've handled Saints quite well by being bigger, tougher and meaner than they are, hopefully we can bring that this weekend.
Chiefs 37 - 28 Saints.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:18:12:06:03 by Chief Bert.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:18:12:06:03 by Chief Bert.
A must win game for us but tough after a quick turnaround. Saints will score tries and hopefully we can score more. must win the collisions, make first time tackles, win our set piece and not give penalties away. Chiefs 43 saints 42. They have some game changers on the bench and we cannot allow Finn Smith to control the game.
A hard one to predict! Saints as we all know, play some great rugby. They score a lot of points but also can concede a few. I believe we have the edge up front, let's use it. Last week Bath showed how not to play saints in the first half, then how to get at them in the second half. I have a feeling it could be very tight. I'd take two bonus points from this game. We are though full of confidence, so with home advantage could see this out. I'm going for Chiefs 35 Saints 33.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:17:15:13:31 by Big Chief Little Chief.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:17:15:13:31 by Big Chief Little Chief.
I genuinely don't know what to think.
I believe that we have hidden, uncharted potential and if the guys believe in themselves, we could surprise a few people
But Saints are a proven, first rate team with every right to be favourites and an expectation to win.
Maybe that expectation will be their undoing. Im going to back the boys.
Chiefs 37 Saints 34
I believe that we have hidden, uncharted potential and if the guys believe in themselves, we could surprise a few people
But Saints are a proven, first rate team with every right to be favourites and an expectation to win.
Maybe that expectation will be their undoing. Im going to back the boys.
Chiefs 37 Saints 34
It’ll be a close game and let’s hope that Saints have their normal 2nd half struggles.
Chiefs 31; Saints 26
Chiefs 31; Saints 26
Loads of respect to Saints, and their supporters, but we're on ascendancy and at home, so Chiefs to win 35:28
In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.
In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.
Thought I would put my first score in, this will be a fantastic quick game with lots of tries, unfortunately Northampton are a class act well coached and very good players. seething from the Bath defeat they will be hungry for blood so its chiefs 28 Northampton 41 for me but i will be in the stand hoping i am completely wrong.
I’m having an internal argument on this one! Home advantage, short turnaround, excellent opposition, chiefs in form, top 4 battle, both benches, the list goes on……..
In the end I’ve settled for optimism, come on you chiefs!
Chiefs 30 - Saints 24
In the end I’ve settled for optimism, come on you chiefs!
Chiefs 30 - Saints 24
Im going to predict 2 TBP + a LBP. Based on home advantage and praying we start with a power game Chiefs 37 Saints 35.
Hard one to call this week, hopefully home advantage and the 16th man carry us to the win:
Chiefs 33 - 29 Saints
Chiefs 33 - 29 Saints
we have been attacking well against teams that defend narrow and run around them. But Saints keep number out wide and push you wide to shut you down. We will need our forwards to punch holes up the middle.
Is Slade's kicking off the tee has good as Steenson was? Should we in the crowd honour Slade by raising our right arm in his pre kick pose. Just keep our palm up so we dont look like we belong to a Germany Socialist party.
Chiefs 31 Saints 32
Is Slade's kicking off the tee has good as Steenson was? Should we in the crowd honour Slade by raising our right arm in his pre kick pose. Just keep our palm up so we dont look like we belong to a Germany Socialist party.
Chiefs 31 Saints 32
While I am hopeful I am wrong I think the extra 2 days rest plus the lack of travelling last weekend really plays in to Saints favour today and could ultimately be the difference in the result.
I wonder if this were an away game we might have been resting some players today?
I don't think our season should be defined by this game and hope that we can bring some returnees back in to the squad over the next few weeks to give us a real boost.
I wonder if this were an away game we might have been resting some players today?
I don't think our season should be defined by this game and hope that we can bring some returnees back in to the squad over the next few weeks to give us a real boost.
As an aside Roots v Pollock off the bench could be interesting!!
I shouldn't, but I'm going to - the result is all your fault, Osmium 
However, well done on predicting the exact score - it doesn't happen often.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:18:18:43:18 by ouch!_that_hurts.
However, well done on predicting the exact score - it doesn't happen often.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:04:18:18:43:18 by ouch!_that_hurts.
How come I don’t get any points when I got the result right and Northampton score spot on ?
Sorry Mike, I recorded your prediction wrongly. Table updated now.
Quote:ouch!_that_hurts
I shouldn't, but I'm going to - the result is all your fault, Osmium
Well I knew when it happened I'd become the object of hate. If it helps I feel bad about it and would far rather one of my many predictions of a Chiefs win had been so successful 🙂
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