Bristol Bears vs London Irish
12th June 1500hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Bristol -13 handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: Even money odds taken 05:01 on June 10th, 2021
Bristol Bears are still playing for the top spot in the Premiership at the end of the season. Victory will secure that on Saturday.
The Bears hold a 3-point advantage at the top over Exeter Chiefs, and this does look like a favourable fixture for them to pick up a victory in.
London Irish are limping towards the end of the season, having fallen to a big slump of losing form in Premiership Rugby.
Table of Contents
Bristol Bears Preview – Can the Bears finish top?
Bristol Bears have led the way for most of the season in the Premiership.
One more victory will see them finish top of the pile and go into the playoffs to face fourth-placed Harlequins.
The Bears have only lost two league games since Round 8 of the Premiership.
Those were defeats against Sale and Exeter, two of the other top-four finishers.
This looks like a favourable home fixture for them to deal with on the weekend.
There is a quote of 1/6 odds-on for the Bristol Bears victory* (odds recorded 05:01 on June 10th, 2021).
Across the course of the season, Bristol Bears have only failed to win two games only at home in the Premiership.
Those were defeats against Sale and Exeter.
Last weekend the Bears were out on the road and scraped across the line with a 26-23 victory at Leicester Tigers.
We expect them to pick up maximum points in this one.
Bristol are W2 L2 in their last four fixtures against London Irish.
This will be just the third meeting between the two teams at Ashton Gate, just the second in the Premiership.
That one previous league meeting there ended in a 27-27 draw in late 2019.
Of the home victories that Bristol Bears have picked up this season, six of the eight have been recorded by a margin of double figures.
So that can lead us to a handicap option for rugby betting.
A Bristol -10 handicap is at a quote of 4/6 odds-on for Saturday’s fixture* (odds recorded 05:01 on June 10th, 2021).
London Irish Preview – Tough afternoon ahead for the Exiles
Even though they are starting the weekend down in ninth, London Irish have something to play for.
They will be looking for a victory, along with other results going their way, to try and make a top-eight finish.
That would reward them with Heineken Cup rugby action next season.
But that looks like a long shot.
The form isn’t there for the Exiles and this is the toughest game that they could get right now.
Last weekend the London Irish went down 36-39 at home against Wasps.
They have lost their last six games played withthree of their last five defeats happening by a margin of four points or fewer.
London Irish will do well to stick in there to keep things tight on the scoreboard on Saturday.
The Exiles have claimed one road victory this season in the Premiership.
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London Irish’s only league success happened at Sale back in Round 11.
Only in three of their away Premiership rugby games this season, have the Exiles managed to reach 20 points.
Strangely enough on none of those occasions did they manage to win a fixture.
Three of London Irish’s away defeats this season have been by a margin of at least 23 points.
With their opponents still looking to pick up a victory to secure the top spot, everything about this fixture looks tough for the visitors.
Bristol Bears vs London Irish Betting Advice
We can picture the Bristol Bears making a strong statement in this one. Just to secure top spot over Exeter.
It could be important momentum for them moving forward as well into the playoffs.
A Bristol Bears -13 handicap we think comes into play for value at even money* (odds recorded 05:01 on June 10th, 2021).
Key Facts – Bristol Bears vs London Irish Betting Tip
- Bristol Bears have lost two games at Ashton Gate this season
- Bristol Bears draw 34-34 with London Irish in the season’s first meeting
- London Irish are with one away victory for the season only
London Irish are not likely to come away with a victory they need to make the top eight.
We don’t see them making too much of an impact on the scoreboard in the fixture either.
So for a Premiership rugby betting tip, we are going to go for the Bristol 11-20 winning margin at 13/5 odds* (odds recorded 05:01 on June 10th, 2021).
The best betting odds for Bristol Bears vs London Irish
Bristol Bears to win: 1/6 at Bet365
Draw: 33/1 at Bet365
London Irish to win: 4/1 at Bet365
