Bath vs Edinburgh Prediction: Edinburgh won’t roll over at The Rec

There’s a top-of-the-table encounter in Pool 2 of the European Rugby Champions Cup to look forward to on Friday night (20:00, Premier Sports 2) as frontrunners Bath prepare to host Edinbrugh at The Recreation Ground.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Bath vs Edinburgh prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in the West Country.

Team News

Starting with Bath, the hosts have gone with a front row of Beno Obano, Tom Dunn and Thomas du Toit, with locks Quinn Roux and Ross Molony in behind.

Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill and Alfie Barbeary complete the pack, with skipper Ben Spencer and Finn Russell in the half-backs.

Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence start in the centres, while the Blue, Black and Whites go with a back three of Henry Arundell, Joe Cokanasiga and Tom de Glanville.

As for Edinburgh, James Whitcombe, Ewan Ashman and Ollie Blyth-Lafferty form the front row, with Callum Hunter-Hill and Glen Young in the engine room.

Tom Dodd, Freddy Douglas and Ben Muncaster make up the back row, with skipper Ben Vellacott and Ross Thompson combining again in the half-backs.

James Lang and Piers O’Conor pair up in the centres, while Malelili Satala is set to make his Edinburgh debut in a back three that includes Scotland internationals Darcy Graham and Harry Paterson.

Bath vs Edinburgh Odds

Bath are the heavy favourites at 1/100 to claim the victory on Friday night, while Edinburgh are available at 14/1 to head back north of the border with the win. A draw at The Rec is currently 28/1.

Edinburgh +25.5 2-way handicap @ 11/10

It’s a weakened Edinburgh side that will head to the home of the Gallagher Prem champions, with a number of their big names missing due to injury.

Edinburgh’s record on the road does not make for great reading, with six defeats in their last seven away games, while conversely, Bath have won six of their last seven home matches in all comps.

It does mean Edinburgh will be up against it if they are to secure a top-two finish in Pool 2 and land a home tie in the round of 16.

While Sean Everitt’s side might well come off second best against Bath, there are reasons to back the visitors with +25.5 in the two-way handicap market.

There’s a settled half-back pairing in skipper Ben Vellacott and Ross Thompson who are available for the visitors and helped Edinburgh overcome Gloucester 26-24 in their last outing in the Champions Cup.

Meanwhile, there is attacking talent with the likes of Scotland internationals Darcy Graham and Harry Paterson, who can strike from anywhere, and the visitors are more than capable of putting points on the board.

With rain expected before kick-off on Friday and during the game at The Rec, that too might act as a slight leveller and contributes to the notion that Edinburgh with a generous +25.5 handicap makes sense in this one.

Click the link for all the latest Rugby Union Odds