Bristol vs Sale Prediction: Bears to show their claws

Bristol Bears will be looking to pick up a rare win over Sale Sharks on Friday night (19:45, live on TNT Sports 1) when these two sides face off at Ashton Gate in the Gallagher Prem.

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

Bristol vs Sale Odds

Bristol are the 4/9 favourites to claim the win on home soil, while Sale are 9/5 to head back north with the victory.

A draw at Ashton Gate is currently 25/1, while Bristol to be leading at half-time and full-time is available at 5/6.

Team News

Starting with the Bears, Bristol go with Ellis Genge, Gabriel Oghre and Lovejoy Chawatama in the front row, with Pedro Rubiolo and Joe Owen in the second row.

Santiago Grondona, Fitz Harding and Viliame Mata complete the pack, while Harry Randall and Tom Jordan start in the half-backs.

James Williams and Benhard Janse van Rensburg combine in the centres, while the Bears have an exciting back three of Kalaveti Ravouvou, Aidan Boshoff and Louis Rees-Zammit.

As for the Sharks, Sale have Bevan Rodd, Luke Cowan-Dickie and James Harper in the front row, with locks Ben Bamber and Ernst van Rhyn in the engine room.

Jacques Vermeulen, Tom Dugdale and Tom Curry form the back row, with Raffi Quirke joined by George Ford in the half-backs.

Sale go with Rekeiti Ma'asi-White and Rob du Preez in the centres, while the backline is completed with the trio of Alex Wills, Tom O’Flaherty and Joe Carpenter.

Bristol -8 @ 11/10

The Sharks have a good record at Ashton Gate, winning all of their last three games at the home of the Bears.

However, Sale's recent away from has been nothing to write home about, with the Sharks losing six of their last seven matches on their travels.

Against a Bristol side who go into this game on the back of a five-game winning streak, siding with the hosts to come out on top appeals here.

The forwards should decide the outcome and, as they saying goes, the backs will decide by how many.

Given the attacking threat in this Bristol back division, with Rees-Zammit eager impress at full-back after signing a new long-term deal at the club, the Bears look capable of overcoming the -8 handicap on offer here.

Gabriel Oghre - Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/5

While Bristol are blessed with electric speed and finishing prowess in the backline, it is hooker Gabriel Oghre who is actually the club's leading tryscorer in the Gallagher Prem this season.

Having crossed seven times already, only two other players have scored more in this competition this term.

Tough to stop at the back of a strong rolling maul game, Oghre in the anytime tryscorer market gets the thumbs up.

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