Sale vs Gloucester Prediction: Depleted Sharks to tank against Cherry and Whites

It’s only the third week of the new Premiership season but already Sale Sharks have mounting injury concerns as they prepare to host an improving Gloucester in the Premiership on Friday night (19:45 kick-off).

Read on for my Sale vs Gloucester prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Rugby Union Odds

The Sharks are a formidable side on their own patch at AJ Bell Stadium and will be favourites when they host the Cherry and Whites.

The Sharks have won 14 of their last 15 home games in the Premiership since December 2022, with only Bristol Bears winning at AJ Bell Stadium in that time.

However, this is far from the strongest Sale team that could be put out on Friday night and Gloucester, who stunned the Bristol Bears in a 44-41 shootout at Ashton Gate last time out, look capable of taking advantage of the Sharks’ injury woes.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, boss Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV from the side that lost 45-26 at Saracens last time out.

Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed have all come into the backline.

Brothers Ben and Tom Curry, JL du Preez and England fly-half George Ford are just a few of the first-team players unavailable due to injury.

As for Gloucester, there are no changes to their free-scoring backline, however there are alterations in the pack after that win at Bristol.

Val Rapava Ruskin, Seb Blake, Afo Fasogbon, Freddie Clarke and Arthur Clark form an all-new front-five, while the back-row is unchanged with Jack Clement, Harry Taylor and Zach Mercer all starting.

Gallagher Premiership Odds

Sale Sharks are 8/15 to win on their own patch, while Gloucester are 6/4 to head back to the West Country with the victory.

A draw is available at 22/1, while Gloucester to be leading at half-time and full-time in the double result market is currently 23/10.

Gloucester to win @ 6/4

Gloucester impressed with their performance at Ashton Gate last time out and will head to AJ Bell Stadium quietly confident of causing an upset against the depleted Sharks.

The loss of Ford at No.10 is a huge blow for the hosts, as the England international is so key to how the Sharks go about their game.

With a backline that includes Wales international Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe in the half-backs, along with Chris Harris and Christian Wade further along the back division, Gloucester look capable of pulling off a rare win at AJ Bell Stadium.

Gloucester win by 1-12 points inclusive @ 13/5

The last time these sides met in the Premiership back in January, Gloucester ran out 32-20 winners at Kingsholm

That result means that in Gloucester’s last five wins against the Sharks, they have all been by between 1-12 points inclusive.

There’s good value to be had with that trend continuing on Friday night.

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