Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester Rugby Prediction & Betting Tips - English Premiership Rugby

Prediction published on 21/03/2024, 15:15  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 22/03/2024 at 07:45 in Rugby Predictions

Week 13 in the Gallagher Premiership will see the Leicester Tigers playing host to Gloucester on Friday evening. The hosts are currently in sixth place in the league standings, while the visitors are ninth. Following their defeat in the Premiership Rugby Cup final at Gloucester last week, Leicester Tigers will seek redemption as they host the Cherry & Whites, aiming to turn the tables in their favor this week. As it stands, the Tigers have won seven and lost five of their 12 matches so far. Their five bonus points leaves them on 33 points, four behind fourth-placed Harlequins. The major difference from last week's 23-13 cup defeat at Kingsholm will be that the Tigers have major reinforcements for this match with Julian Montoya, along with Jasper Wiese and Solomone Kata, returning to their lineup after being ineligible for the Premiership Rugby Cup. Additionally, Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Freddie Steward, and Tommy Reffell make their return after Six Nations duty, while Ben Youngs starts at scrum-half, supported by Jack van Poortvliet on the bench for the first time this season following an injury layoff. 

Meanwhile, Gloucester's fortunes have improved recently, as they ended a nine-match losing streak in the Premiership with a win over Sale in January and clinched the Premiership Cup by defeating this opponent last weekend. However, they face a daunting challenge as they prepare to face the Tigers at Welford Road in the Premiership on Friday evening after a substantial break for the Six Nations. They currently have a record of three wins and nine losses in 12 games. However, despite their poor form in this competition, Gloucester still have an 18-point lead over the bottom-placed Newcastle, largely due to the ten bonus points they have accumulated. They have secured a try bonus in five of their last seven matches, and notably, four of their last six losses have been by a margin of no more than seven points. Seb Blake will replace the injured George McGuigan, who suffered a hamstring injury in the win over the Tigers last week, while Lewis Ludlow is sidelined with a minor foot injury. Ruan Ackermann will, therefore, take over the captaincy for this match.