Bath vs Bristol Prediction: Bath to take down wounded Bears
Five minutes after Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester have kicked off at Sandy Park, there is more West Country derby action to take in on Saturday afternoon (15:05, TNT Sports 1) as Gallagher Prem champions Bath host Bristol Bears at The Recreation Ground.
Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Bath vs Bristol prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in Somerset.
Bath vs Bristol Betting Tips
*odds correct at time of publication
Team News
Starting with Bath, the hosts go with Beno Obano, Tom Dunn and Thomas du Toit in the front row, with locks Quinn Roux and Ross Molony in behind.
Josh Bayliss, Guy Pepper and Miles Reid complete the pack, with skipper Ben Spencer and Finn Russell in the half-backs.
Cameron Redpath and Ollie Lawrence combine in the centres, with Henry Arundell, Joe Cokanasiga and Santi Carreras in the back three.
As for the Bears, Bristol start with Ellis Genge, Gabriel Oghre and George Kloska in the front row.
Pedro Rubiolo and Joe Batley start in the second row, while the trio of Santiago Grondona, skipper Fitz Harding and Viliame Mata complete the pack.
Kieran Marmion and Sam Worsley start in the half-backs, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Matias Moroni in the centres.
Kalaveti Ravouvou, Jack Bates and Benjamin Elizalde form the back three for the Bears.
Bath are the favourites to claim the victory and the bragging rights on Saturday at 1/10, with Bristol the 6/1 underdogs.
A draw at The Rec is 25/1, while Bath are 4/11 to be leading at the half-time and full-time whistles.
Bath -17 handicap @ 1/1
With a Test level backline at their disposal, it’s easy to see why Bath are the heavy favourites to claim the victory on Saturday.
Missing the likes of Harry Randall, Tom Jordan, Gabriel Ibitoye and Louis Rees-Zammit, the Bears are without some key personnel for this weekend.
Bath will be determined to bounce back after their 22-20 defeat at Leicester Tigers last weekend and Bristol might well find themselves on the end of a backlash, with the hosts backed to cover the handicap.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Gabriel Oghre anytime tryscorer @ 9/5
While Bristol are missing some big names in the backs, they will be even more inclined to keep the ball in the forwards when close to the Bath line.
Gabriel Oghre is the highest-scoring forward in the Gallagher Prem this season, with the Bears hooker already scoring four tries in the competition this term.
Able to power over from close range at the lineout, Oghre is great value at 9/5 to add to his try collection this weekend.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Click here for the latest Rugby Union Odds
Find more Rugby Union Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights
Share Article
New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.
