Saracens vs Bristol Prediction: Bears to run Sarries close
Starting their Gallagher Premiership campaign with an impressive win over Leicester Tigers, Bristol Bears will head into Saturday’s game (17:30 BST, TNT Sports 1) full of confidence when they take on Saracens at StoneX Stadium.
Below are my Saracens vs Bristol predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the clash in north London.
Team News
Saracens go with a front row of Rhys Carre, Theo Dan and Marco Riccioni, with Harry Wilson and Hugh Tizard in the second row.
Nick Isiekwe starts in the back row alongside Andy Onyeama-Christie and Tom Willis, while Ivan Van Zyl and Fergus Burke combine again in the half-backs.
Owen Farrell and Nick Tompkins continue in the centres, with Rotimi Segun, Jack Bracken and Max Malins in the back three.
As for the visitors, Jake Woolmore, Gabriel Oghre and Lovjoy Chawatama start in the front row, with locks James Dun and Joe Batley in the engine room.
Joe Owen, Luka Ivanishvili and Viliame Mata start in the back row, with Kieran Marmion and Tom Jordan the half-backs.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Joe Jenkins combine in the centres, with the Bears going for a back three of Klaveti Ravouvou, Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Carrington.
Saracens are 2/11 to claim the win on home turf, while Bristol are 4/1 underdogs to head back to the West Country with the spoils.
A draw at StoneX is available at 22/1, while Bristol are priced at 21/20 with +4.5 in the half-time handicap market.
Bristol +10 handicap @ 1/1
Bristol impressed in their 42-24 victory over the Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate, but the result came at a cost, with injuries to important players.
Harry Randall (hamstring) and AJ MacGinty (Achilles) both suffered injuries in the half-backs, while skipper Fitz Harding is out with a concussion.
Their absence does open the door for others, and utility Scotland star Jordan will be looking to show what he’s capable of in his preferred position at fly-half.
While Bristol have been hit by early injuries, there is still enough talent in this side to cause the Saracens problems this weekend.
After his spell pursuing a career in the NFL, Rees-Zammit was back doing what he does best last week, scoring tries.
Going over for a late score against the Tigers, the Wales winger showed exactly what he’s capable of from long range.
Saracens were not exactly tested in their opening 39-17 win at Newcastle Red Bulls last week, and they will have to be ready for a step up in quality against Bristol.
With Jordan pulling the strings at No.10 and threats out wide, the Bears look like they can at least score enough points to make this a close game, and they are backed at evens with the +10 handicap.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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