Bristol vs Bath Prediction: Bears won’t enjoy Bath time

There are points and bragging rights up for grabs on Friday night (7:45pm BST, TNT Sports 2) as rivals Bristol Bears and Bath go head-to-head at Ashton Gate.

Below are my Bristol vs Bath predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for this West Country derby.

Rugby Union Odds

Team News

Starting with Bristol, the Bears have gone with Ellis Genge, Harry Thacker and George Kloska in the front row, with James Dun and Joe Batley in the second.

Joe Owen, skipper Fitz Harding and Santiago Grondona start in the back row, while Harry Randall and AJ MacGinty combine in the half-backs.

Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Matias Moroni form the centre-partnership, while the hosts go with a back three of Kalaveti Ravouvou, Louis Rees-Zammit and Noah Heward.

As for Bath, the reigning Gallagher Prem champions have opted for a front row of Beno Obano, Kepueli Tuipulotu and Thomas du Toit, pairing locks Ted Hill and Charlie Ewels together.

Ethan Staddon, Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill complete the pack, while skipper Ben Spencer is joined by Ciaran Donoghue in the half-backs.

Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence combine in the centres, while Bath boast a back three of Henry Arundell, Joe Cokanasiga and Santi Carreras.

Bristol vs Bath Odds

Bristol are the underdogs at 3/1 to claim the victory on home soil, while Bath are 1/4 to head back to Somerset with the spoils. A draw at Ashton Gate is available at 25/1.

Bath -12 handicap @ 20/21

Bristol endured one of the darkest days in their modern history after what was a humiliating defeat against Northampton Saints last time out.

Franklin’s Gardens is rarely an easy place to go to but to leave the East Midlands following a 94-33 defeat and their tails between their legs, it will have been a tough week for the Bears’ camp.

In contrast to Bristol, Bath will go flying into this game after their 69-12 win overr Newcastle Red Bulls at The Recreation Ground.

The Blue, Black & Whites will look to wrap up their seeding in the top four in this penultimate round of fixtures before the play-offs.

Sat in second place in the standings, Bath are good value to not only beat the sixth-placed Bears but cover the handicap at Ashton Gate in the process.

Bath are currently on a four-game winning streak against Bristol in all competitions and they should be victorious again on Friday night against a Bears side who will still be licking their wounds following what was a harrowing defeat at Northampton.

Rugby Union betting tips with Betfred Insights.