Cardiff Rugby vs Bath Prediction: Bath to clean up in Welsh capital

Bath will be looking to build on their impressive win over Ulster in the opening round of the European Champions Cup when they hop across the border to face Cardiff at The Arms Park.

While Bath earned a 37-14 success over Ulster at the Recreation Ground last week, while Cardiff suffered a 52-7 defeat on the road at Toulouse in their first game of the competition.

With Bath in second place in the Premiership standings and hitting the ground running in Europe, it could be another long night for Cardiff on Saturday.

Team news

Liam Belcher returns to captain Cardiff at hooker in one of five changes to the side that was thrashed by Toulouse last time out.

Prop Corey Domachowski and flanker Alex Mann also return to the starting XV, while centre Rey Lee-Lo and full-back Cameron Winnett both come into the backline.

Ellis Jenkins will miss Saturday’s game due to suspension while internationals Taulupe Faletau, Lopeti Timani, Thomas Young and James Botham are all recovering from injuries.

Bath coach Johann van Graan has made four changes from the team that overcame Ulster so convincingly.

Thomas du Toit, Josh McNally, Chris Cloete and Tom de Glanville all get the chance to impress from the off, while injured England flanker Sam Underhill misses out.

First-choice halfback pairing Ben Spencer and Finn Russell line up once again, with formidable centre duo of Cameron Redpath and Ollie Lawrence outside them.

Match odds

Cardiff are the 10/3 underdogs at the weekend to earn their first win in the Champions Cup this season, while Bath are the firm favourites at 2/9. A tie on the night in the Welsh capital is available at 22/1.

A Bath victory by 1-12 points inclusive is available at 7/4, while a visiting success by over 12 points is 11/10.

Bath -8.5 Handicap @ 20/21

It’s been a tough start to the season for Cardiff and it’s hard to see things getting any better against an in-form Bath side at the weekend.

Cardiff currently sit down in 12th place in the United Rugby Championship table with just two wins from their first seven games of the campaign.

Trying to win in Toulouse was always going to be a mammoth challenge but the manner of their loss and how easy they were opened up will have been troubling for head coach Matt Sherratt.

Bath on the other hand are flying under boss Van Grann and have come on leaps and bounds since a disappointing campaign last term.

The arrival of Scotland fly-half Russell from Racing 92 has given the backline an injection of quality.

Redpath and Lawrence have benefited since Russell’s arrival and this backline could run riot against a Cardiff defence that was so exposed against Toulouse last time.

Bath should head back across the border to England with the victory and are likely to have little trouble in falling on the right side of the -8.5 handicap on offer.

Check out the rest of our Rugby Union Betting Tips here.