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Rugby Union tips

Premiership match predictions, where to watch and free tips

Harlequins v Bristol | Northampton v Worcester

Semi Radrada of Bristol
Semi Radrada of BristolCredit: Mike Hewitt

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's Premiership matches.

The planned Boxing Day games between Bath and London Irish plus the clash between Newcastle and Leicester have both had to be called off but there's still a double-header of TV action in England.

Harlequins v Bristol

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 2pm Saturday

Best bet

Bristol to win by one to 12 points
1pt 2-1 Betfair

Match preview

Bristol have already had a few tough fights on their hands early in the season and that battling quality should give them the edge over Quins at the Stoop.

A depleted Bears side were edged out by three points at Wasps in their opener, while home wins over Worcester and Northampton followed, the second of which came by a single point in a game where they had trailed 14-0.

European visitors Clermont turned on the style but Bristol responded in kind in a 51-38 Champions Cup defeat, while last week's difficult trip to Connacht yielded a 27-18 victory.

Fijian centre Semi Radrada is back from injury to add his trickery to the strong Bristol line-up - he is one of five changes which should help keep the line-up fresh.

Quins are looking to avoid a fourth successive home Premiership defeat for the first time in a decade, and although they have won their last two league games - both away - they have looked too leaky to withstand a side of Bristol's attacking calibre.

The hosts have shipped 86 points and 12 tries in three Premiership games while Racing 92 overran them 49-7 last week. Bristol may not cut loose quite so effectively but look good value for a win by one to 12 points.


Northampton v Worcester

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 4.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Northampton -6
2pts 10-11 general

Match preview

This is a clash of the bottom two sides but Northampton look well placed to earn their first win of the season.

Worcester have fared only slightly better with an 11-10 success over London Irish in round one to their name, but the Saints have an experienced team out and will be buoyed by last week's performance at Leinster.

That Champions Cup tie ended in a 35-19 defeat but a depleted Northampton side found plenty of spirit to say within a handicap in the high-20s against a highflying Leinster side.

Key men return to the Saints line-up for this clash including Wales fly-half Dan Biggar and England flanker Lewis Ludlam, while Courtney Lawes also lines up in the back row in a powerful pack.

The Warriors have not won since that edgy opening-day success and their European Challenge Cup campaign brought back-to-back defeats to Pau and Ospreys.

Their problem last year was a lack of cutting edge and they are already the Premiership's lowest scorers with 41 points in three games. The hosts look good to cover a handicap of less than a converted try.


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Graham WoodsRacing Post Sport

Published on 24 December 2020inRugby Union tips

Last updated 16:57, 24 December 2020

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