Sale Sharks vs London Irish
21st March 1500hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Draw
Bookmaker Betfred
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 19:11 GMT, March 19th, 2021
Sale Sharks slipped up last week in a defeat at Northampton, as they missed their chance to make it three straight league wins.
They get back to the comfort of home soil on Sunday however as they look to make it three in a row at the AJ Bell.
London Irish continued their solid season last weekend as they edged out bottom side Worcester.
Table of Contents
Sale Sharks Preview – Can the Sharks deliver the goods at home?
Sale had a tricky away game on their hands last weekend as they went to Northampton.
The Sharks came up just a little short in that contest as they suffered a defeat by a three point margin.
But still they have won their last two league fixtures on home soil, wins over Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs.
In the match outright for Premiership rugby betting the Sale Sharks are 2/5 for the win* (odds recorded 19:11 GMT, March 19th, 2021).
Each of the last four league fixtures that Sale have been involved in, have been won by the home side.
It has only been one home defeat for them at the AJ Bell since the turn of the new year.
The Sharks are well in the thick of things for a place in the top four.
They hold a W8 L5 record from this campaign.
There has been an average of 21.5 points per game scored by the Sharks in this campaign.
Sale are the lowest scoring of the current top four teams in the league.
From their home fixtures played this season in the Premiership, Sale Sharks are W4 L2.
The two defeats were against Wasps and Bath.
Looking at the margins, three of the four home wins that Sale Sharks have earned have been by at least seven points.
The one that wasn’t was in a tough duel with reigning champions Exeter.
In all of their Premiership games at the AJ Bell this season, Sale Sharks have scored at least 20 points.
They are the favourites for the for points in this game and a Sale -7 handicap is at 10/11* (odds recorded 19:11 GMT, March 19th, 2021)
London Irish Preview – Can the Exiles pull off an upset?
London Irish battled to a 20-17 home win over the Premiership’s bottom side Worcester last weekend.
That is two wins in their last three games that they have picked up now (L1).
The Exiles finished the last round of action in sixth place in the table (D5 D2 L6). That includes adjustments for cancelled fixtures.
In their eleven matches played, London Irish hold a W5D2 L4 record.
Breaking that down further to look at just their away form, London Irish are W1 D1 L3 from their five road games.
The lone success that they have taken on their travels happened at Wasps.
As they are underdogs, it is worth looking at their margins of defeat.
Two of their three losses were by a single point margin only. The other was a heavier one at reigning champions Exeter.
So that does suggest that they are not going to totally be a pushover at the AJ Bell on Sunday.
A London Irish +5 handicap is at even money for the contest* (odds recorded 19:11 GMT, March 19th, 2021)
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
London Irish have only suffered one loss in their last four league games.
The defeat in that sequence was by a one point margin as well, so they have been a bit of a handful.
But the head to head has to come into play.
London Irish have lost their last seven fixtures against the Sharks in the Premiership.
They are also on a seven match losing streak specifically at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Sale Sharks vs London Irish Betting Advice
We would expect the home win to happen from this fixture as the Sharks are pretty reliable at the AJ Bell.
We are taking a look at the Sale Shark -5 handicap which looks a decent proposition for rugby betting.
That is a quote of 10/11* (odds recorded 19:11 GMT, March 19th, 2021).
All four of their home wins have been by a margin of at least seven points.
Key Facts – Sale Sharks vs London Irish Betting Tip
- Sale Sharks have won their last seven home games against London Irish
- Sale Sharks have lost one home game in 2021
- London Irish are winless in seven (home and away) against the Sharks
London Irish have put in some really gritty, battling performances this season which has been commendable from them.
But they don’t carry much away form in Premiership rugby so we expect them to just fall short.
A Sale 1-12 winning margin covers a lot at a quote of 9/5* (odds recorded 19:11 GMT, March 19th, 2021)
The best betting odds for Sale Sharks vs London Irish
Sale Sharks to win: 2/5 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
London Irish to win: 21/10 at Bet365
