Sale Sharks vs Bristol RC Bears Prediction & Betting Tips - English Premiership Rugby

Prediction published on 03/01/2024, 13:45  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 05/01/2024 at 06:45 in Rugby Predictions

Sale Sharks look to bounce back from last weekend's loss at Northampton Saints. They begin the weekend third in the English Premiership (two points off the top of the table) and host Bristol who are eighth in the table. Sale's defeat at Northampton by four points was a disappointing one for Sale after leading 7-0 at the break. Then they conceded 21 points in the second half and went down to their third English Premiership loss of the season. Seven of the other ten games have been won though. Mounting a title challenge isn't going to be easy for them unless they can improve their away record with three out of five being lost. It's much better at home for Sale with all five of their home league games being won. The most recent of those was a 22-20 win over Saracens.

Bristol only have Gloucester and Newcastle Falcons below them in the English Premiership table. They began this match 11 points behind their opponents and last weekend were beaten 24-14 at home by Exeter Chiefs. That ended a good run for Bristol who had won their last two league games but they beat the two teams below them. They have only won four of their ten English Premiership games this season and lost three of their four away fixtures. Their last away league fixture was a win at bottom-of-the-table Newcastle (who have lost all their league games this season). We tip Sale to get a home win on Friday evening.