Leicester Tigers vs Bristol Prediction: Bears can get the better of toothless Tigers

A run of four defeats from five across all competitions has seen Dan McKellar’s Leicester Tigers drop down the Premiership table and their fortunes could get worse before they get better when the in-form Bristol Bears visit Welford Road on Saturday. 

Pat Lam’s Bears have won their last four matches - including an impressive 52-21 thumping of runaway leaders Northampton Saints - and should continue their winning streak at the weekend. 

Match Odds 

Home advantage makes the Tigers the favourites for this encounter at 8/15, while the Bears are 13/8 to take the points back to Ashton Gate. The rare tie provides odds of 16/1. 

Team News 

Dan McKellar has named some changes in the forwards and the backs for this Premiership clash, with George Martin coming into the second row ahead of the benched Harry Wells. 

Flanker Finn Carnduff, 20, is left out of the matchday squad altogether with South African Hanro Liebenberg coming in to make his 100th start for Leicester. Tighthead prop Dan Cole will also make a landmark appearance on Saturday with his 250th start. 

Solomone Kata’s sending-off in their 40-17 defeat to Northampton Saints last time out means he will miss the weekend’s match, while full back Jamie Shillcock also loses his place in the starting line-up as he is named as a replacement. 

Dan Kelly and Freddie Steward move over to cover the vacancies at inside centre and full back respectively, while Matt Scott and Mike Brown come in at outside centre and right wing. 

The Bears make just one change from the side who emphatically saw off Newcastle Falcons 85-14 in their last Premiership match as Joe Batley is preferred to Josh Caulfield in the second row - with the 26-year-old dropping to the bench. 

Eight of the 11 different tryscorers on Sunday will start at the weekend, including prop Ellis Genge and centre Benhard Janse van Rensberg - who grabbed a brace as well as a conversion - while the options on the bench also include the remaining three tryscorers in Jake Heenan, Kieran Marmion and Virimi Vakatawa. 

Bristol to win @ 13/8 

Bristol’s attacking play in recent weeks has been a joy to behold. They have scored more than 50 points against Newcastle, Northampton and Bath, and should be expected to continue firing on all cylinders on Saturday. 

Their recent upturn in away form has helped to propel the Bears up the table, with Pat Lam’s side winning their last three on the road. 

Leicester have won just one of three home matches in all competitions in 2024 and were beaten 27-25 by Gloucester, one of only two sides below them in the table, in their last league fixture at Welford Road. 

Therefore, it could be a tricky afternoon for the hosts. And given how strong the Bears have looked on the road, an extension to Leicester’s winless home run looks distinctly possible. 

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