Bath vs Sale Prediction: Champions in line for home success

Two teams looking to build on victories in the opening round of the new Gallagher Prem season meet at The Recreation Ground on Friday night (19:45, TNT Sports 1), when reigning champions Bath take on Sale.

Trailing 17-14 at the break in their trip to Harlequins last week, the Blue, Black and White turned up the heat in the second half to eventually record a 47-31 victory. Sale also came from behind in their visit of Gloucester, coming from 10-5 down at the interval to register a 27-10 success and ensure they head to The Rec in confident mood.

Team News

Bath have made just one change from the side who beat Harlequins, with Josh Bayliss replaced by Ted Hill at blindside flanker.

Bath starting XV: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokansiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Max Ojomoh, 9, Ben Spencer (C); 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Miles Reid.

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Will Butt, 23 Alfie Barbeary.

Sale have made two alterations from the 27-10 win over Gloucester with the first of those coming in the forwards, where Hyron Andrews comes into the second row, meaning captain Ernst van Rhyn switches to the back row in place of the injured Jacques Vermeulen.

In the backs, Sam Bedlow starts at inside centre for Sale in place of Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, who was forced off with injury in the win over Gloucester.

Sale starting XV: 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Tom O'Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Ernst van Rhyn (C), 7. Ben Curry, 8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements: 16. Ethan Caine, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Tristan Woodman, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Arron Reed, 23. Marius Louw.

Bath vs Sale Odds

Bath are the 1/6 favourites to win, while Sale are 9/2 to come away with the victory, while the draw is priced at 20/1.

Bath to win by over 12 points @ 20/21

Bath are aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back Premiership titles since Saracens in 2019 and they made a solid start to their defence, as they stuck 47 points past Quins.

The Blue, Black and White were a little rusty in the first half, but they burst into life with a blistering second-half performance and they will be hoping to continue that fine attacking play against the Sharks.

Sale will also be pleased to have started off the league campaign with a victory but they face a difficult trip to The Rec, a stadium they have not enjoyed visiting in recent years.

The Sharks have lost on their last three trips to the Recreation, losing 42-24, 31-23 and 40-13, and they will struggle to contain a Bath side who were rampant after the break against the Quins.

Bath put up 47 points without Finn Russell, who is once again missing for this contest and that is evidence of how strong the reigning champions are in attack.

While Sale have the quality to cross the whitewash a few times themselves, the hosts have the greater depth and that can shine through in Friday's contest.

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