London Irish vs Bath
27th March 1500hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Bath to win
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 6/4 odds taken 19:28 GMT on March 25th, 2021
London Irish suffered a heavy away loss at Sale Sharks last weekend which leaves them with a real mixed bag of results in their recent league action.
They get back to home soil this weekend looking to do a number on Bath.
But after their slow start to the season, the West Country club have put together a strong second half of the season and kick off as favourites in Brentford.
Table of Contents
London Irish Preview – Can the Exiles upset Bath?
London Irish are on a W5 D2 L7 record in Premiership rugby this season. That put them in sixth place in the table at the close of the last round.
That is with the adjustments for cancelled fixtures. Their form from their 12 matches played is W5 D2 L5.
So it has been an improved performance from the Exiles this season overall.
London Irish have alternated between a win and a loss in their last four league fixtures.
This would be a big four points secured against Bath if they were able to pull off the home win.
That’s because the recent strong form of Bath has left the Exiles just two points ahead of them in the table.
So this is a big midtable clash in regards of keeping up the outside chances of a top four finish this season.
London Irish to win rugby betting odds: 6/4
So the Exiles are underdogs for this home game, but the bookmakers are not writing them out of this.
Each of their last three Premiership rugby fixtures have been won by the home side on the day.
The last time that the Exiles suffered a loss at home was back on December 6th when Sale Shark visits.
Overall therefore, London Irish have been a tough side to knock over at the Brentford Community Stadium.
But is a win on the radar for them this season? This will be the first meeting this season between the two clubs.
Their scheduled fixture at Bath earlier this season was cancelled.
Because of their form at home, they do look as if they can keep this match very tight.
London Irish +3 handicap rugby betting odds: Evens
* (odds recorded 19:28 GMT on March 25th, 2021)
The home form of London Irish needs to be looked at in a little more detail ahead of rugby betting.
It has been a superb W4 D1 L1 record from London Irish at Brentford.
Two of their wins happened against the current bottom two of Gloucester and Worcester. The other two were against Newcastle and Leicester.
When it comes to winning margins, their biggest was a 13-point success over Leicester Tigers.
London Irish are one of the lower-scoring teams in the Premierships, but they have been excellent in defence.
Will that defence keep Bath at arm’s length on Saturday?
Bath Preview – Can Bath keep up their charge?
Bath look to have well and truly left behind that miserable first half of the Premiership season that they had.
The West Country club have turned things around wonderfully and have won four of their last five league matches (L1).
Last weekend they collected a resounding home victory against bottom side Worcester.
It has been three straight road victories for Bath in Premiership rugby.
Understandably they are posing a threat on the weekend.
Looking back just a little bit farther, the only loss for Bath in the last six rounds happened against Exeter on March 6th.
Bath to win Rugby betting odds: 4/6
* (odds recorded 19:28 GMT on March 25th, 2021)
The key for them has been getting their defence in a bit of order. It was a shambles over the early stages of the campaign.
In their last four league wins, Bath have conceded an average of 19 points per game.
That’s well below their average of 29 points per game conceded this season.
So there has been clear improvement there.
It’s hard to gauge where they may fall on the handicap line.
Two of Bath’s away wins have been by a margin of at least 16 points. The other two were by five points or fewer.
Bath -4 rugby betting handicap odds: 10/11
* (odds recorded 19:28 GMT on March 25th, 2021)
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The head to head is interesting as Bath are on a big winning streak of form against London Irish.
It is a six-match winning streak Bath have going against the Exiles, since a defeat on the road against them back in 2012.
The last time that Bath lost a home game to The Irish was back in November 2009.
So that is a huge trend there of course to lean towards, and it would, from a rugby betting perspective, back up the favouritism of Bath based on current form.
Bath are W4 L2 on their league travels, and two of those losses were against the current top two of Exeter and Bristol Bears.
On paper, this is little bit easier of an assignment for Bath.
London Irish vs Bath Betting Advice
London Irish are no pushover at all. They are enjoying a good season and are a handful at the Brentford Community Stadium.
That is through defensive organization and they are going to need that to be at its best on Saturday.
London Irish can’t match Bath in the scoring department.
We think that the Bath -6 handicap is the way to go, just at 10/11 odds in Premiership rugby betting* (odds recorded 19:28 GMT on March 25th, 2021).
Key Facts – London Irish vs Bath Betting Tip
- London Irish have lost their last six league games against Bath
- Bath have won four of their last five league fixtures
- Bath have suffered one defeat in the last six rounds of league action
So Bath have some new found confidence and are looking like the top-four side that they were last season.
The West Country club have road form to back things up and a strong head to head record against the Exiles to boot.
Bath 1-12 winning margin looks like a solid proposition at 8/5* (odds recorded 19:28 GMT on March 25th, 2021)
The best betting odds for London Irish vs Bath
London Irish to win: 6/4 at Bet365
Draw: 33/1 at Bet365
Bath to win: 4/6 at Bet365
