Leicester Tigers vs Bath Prediction: Bath to sink Tigers

The Gallagher Prem throws up one of the great fixtures in English rugby union on Saturday (15:05, ITV4 & TNT Sports 1) as giants of the game, Leicester Tigers and Bath, go head-to-head at Welford Road.

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

Team News

Starting with the Tigers, the hosts have gone with Nicky Smith, Jamie Blamire and Joe Heyes in the front row, with locks Cameron Henderson and skipper Ollie Chessum in the engine room.

Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Olly Cracknell start in the back row, with Tom Whiteley and James O’Connor in the half-backs.

Joseph Woodward and Solomone Kata form the centres, with the Tigers going for a back three of Ollie Hassell Collins, Adam Radwan and Freddie Steward.

As for reigning Prem champions Bath, the visitors have Beno Obano, Dan Frost and Will Stuart in the front row.

Quinn Roux and Ross Molony start in the second row, with Ethan Staddon, Sam Underhill and Alfie Barbeary completing the pack.

Ben Spencer and Finn Russell go again in the half-backs, with Cameron Redpath and Louie Hennessey in the centres.

Henry Arundell, Tom de Glanville and Santi Carreras form an exciting back three for the visitors.

Leicester Tigers vs Bath Odds

Leicester Tigers are currently 13/8 for the win on Saturday, while Bath are 1/2 to travel back to the West Country with the spoils.

A stalemate at Welford Road between these sides is available at 20/1.

Bath -6 handicap @ 11/10

Winning all of their opening three games, Bath have made the perfect start to the defence of their Gallagher Prem crown.

Top scorers in the competition after the first three rounds, Bath have scored 113 points so far, at an average of 37.6 points per game.

As for Leicester, the Tigers will still be licking their wounds after a 32-26 defeat to bitter rivals Northampton Saints in the East Midlands derby last weekend.

That defeat at Franklin’s Gardens left the Tigers down in seventh place in the standings and next their defence will put the ultimate test against Bath.

With Spencer and Russell able to manage the game in the half-backs, Bath have some frighteningly good runners in the wide channels.

Back playing his rugby in the Prem, Arundell has enjoyed a tremendous start to the season, scoring three tries in the competition already.

With a pack able to match the Tigers, the extra sprinkling of quality in the Bath backline might well prove to be the difference in this one.

The West Country outfit have won all of their last three encounters with Leicester and Bath are backed to claim the victory and cover the handicap at Welford Road in Saturday’s showdown.

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