London Irish vs Bristol Bears
4th October 1500hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Bears -18 handicap
Bookmaker Coral
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 23:45 GMT, Saturday, 3rd October
It has been a disappointing season for London Irish and they have struggled badly since the season got restarted.
But this is the final action of the campaign, so will they be able to sign off with a positive home result?
That doesn’t seem too likely as Bristol are paying a visit and they have to win to have a chance at top four finish.
Table of Contents
London Irish Preview – Irish likely to fall in final game
It has been just a W6 D1 L14 record from London Irish for this campaign, and they have the worst defensive record of all in the current standings.
They were on a long losing streak before they paid a visit to Sandy Park to face Exeter in midweek.
The Irish collected a win there against a much-changed Chiefs side, a 22-19 win for the Exiles in that one.
However, they are not going to get let off as lightly against the Bears on Sunday, because whereas Exeter have already secured their place in the semi’s, Bristol have not.
It was a nine match losing streak of competitive action for London Irish before they got that win at Exeter on Wednesday.
Their home form doesn’t exactly stack up too highly either.
The London Irish have only won one home game across all competitions since November last year.
That lone success was against Gloucester in league action in February.
There was a 27-27 draw between the Irish and Bristol when they met at Ashton Gate in December.
The Irish are 13/2 underdogs for this game in the match outright and there is nothing about it that looks easy for them* (odds taken 23:45 GMT, Saturday, 3rd October).
We certainly don’t expect them to collect the four points on offer on Sunday.
Bristol Bears Preview – Can Bears reach the semi finals?
One final effort is needed from the Bristol Bears to try and make the semi finals in what is a wonderfully tight race.
Bristol starts on Sunday in fifth place, behind Sale on points difference only. One point ahead of them is Bath and two points ahead are Wasps.
So there is everything to play for still in the push for a top-four finish and the Bears are in great form at the moment.
The visitors will go to The Stoop as huge 1/12 favouritees* (odds taken 23:45 GMT, Saturday, 3rd October).
It is hard not to argue with that as they have lost only one of their last six games in all competitions, which was a league defeat at Wasps back in the middle of September.
Even with them having won only one of their last three away games (at Worcester in round 18), they are the red hot favourites.
A Bristol -18 handicap is at 10/11 odds* (odds taken 23:45 GMT, Saturday, 3rd October).
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Bristol Bears are on a three-match winning streak home and away in all competitions, two of those coming in the European Challenge Cup, which they have reached the final of.
In each of the last four wins that they have recorded, the Bears have produced at least 37 points in a fixture.
So they have had the recent scoring touch to potentially cover such a big handicap.
Once again Bristol are in a position where they have to leave everything on the line and shoot for a bonus-point win as well because that could be so crucial in the final standings.
London Irish vs Bristol Bears Betting Advice
This is all about the Bears and we would expect them to comfortably pick up a match win in this one, so it’s all about the margin.
Are they good enough cover a -18 handicap for 10/11 odds in rugby betting* (odds taken 23:45 GMT, Saturday, 3rd October)?
Right now they are as they have a big prize in sight of the semi finals and they are facing a poor home side.
Key Facts – London Irish vs Bristol Bears Betting Tip
- London Irish have won one home game all season
- London Irish are unbeaten in four against Bristol (D1 L3)
- Bristol Bears have to win to have a chance at a top four finish
Forget about the win that Irish took at Exeter in midweek, that was not a balanced result with the Chiefs understrength.
Bristol have actually not beaten Irish in any of the last four meetings (D1 L3) but we have to be all over them for maximum points here.
A Bristol Bears winning margin of 11-20 strikes a nice chord at 3/1 for Premiership rugby betting* (odds taken 23:45 GMT, Saturday, 3rd October).
The best betting odds for London Irish vs Bristol Bears
London Irish to win: 12/1 at Bet365
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Bristol Bears to win: 10/11 at Bet365
