Harlequins vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Quins to take down Tigers

Harlequins will look to move on from their 26-14 defeat at Newcastle Red Bulls when they host Leicester Tigers in the second round of games in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Friday night (19:45 kick-off) at the Twickenham Stoop.

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

Team News

Jordan Els, skipper Jack Walker and Harry Williams start for Quins, with the second row consisting of Jonny Green and Kieran Treadwell.

Jack Kenningham, Will Evans and Tom Lawday make up an experienced back row, with Max Green and Jarrod Evans in the half-backs.

Bryn Bradley and Sean Kerr start in the centres, with Nick David, Cassius Cleaves and Tyrone Green in the back three.

As for Leicester, the Tigers go with Tarek Haffar, skipper Charlie Clare and Ale Loman in the front row, with Harry Wells and Osian Thomas in the second row.

Harry Palmer, Joshua Manz and Joaquin Moro start in the back row, with Olloe Allan and Charlie Titcombe in the half-backs.

Joseph Woodward and Will Wand start in the centres, with Ryan Crowley, Gabriel Hamer-Webb and George Pearson in the back three for the Tigers.

Harlequins vs Leicester Tigers Odds

Hosts Harlequins are available at 2/13 to make home advantage count on Friday night and claim the victory, while the Leicester Tigers are 9/2 to head back to the East Midlands with the win.

A draw on the night at the Twickenham Stoop is available at 20/1.

Harlequins -9 Handicap @ 8/11

It’s the contrast in experience in key parts of the field which suggests Quins fans might well be the ones smiling come the full-time whistle at the Twickenham Stoop.

Looking at the back rows, Leicester have just 11 club appearances between Palmer, Manz and Moro, while Harlequins have 283 appearances between Kenninghan, Evans and Lawday.

In such a crucial area of the game at the breakdown, it looks like Quins will have the clear advantage and that should give them a platform to have more ball and better territory in this contest.

In the half-backs, Evans will be a key figure in the No.10 jersey and he can unleash a backline that also has experienced heads in the shape of David and Green.

Leicester will of course look to bring their direct approach to the game and will try to put a marker down in the set-piece at scrum and lineout time.

However, Quins have more experience across much of the park and, with Evans set to play an important role, the hosts are good value to not only win on Friday night against the Tigers, but also to overcome the handicap in this Premiership Rugby Cup clash.

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