Bath v Gloucester predictions and rugby union tips: Hosts can stay in touch

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Bath v Gloucester in the Premiership on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 3pm Saturday

Best bet

Bath +9
2pts 10-11 general

Match preview

Bath finished bottom of the Premiership table last season, suffered heavy defeats in both derby clashes with Gloucester, including a 64-0 mauling at Kingsholm, and have started this campaign with four straight defeats.

Last year they went ten matches without a win at the start of the season, culminating in a 40-20 reverse at home to Saturday's opponents Gloucester.

So on the face of it a nine-point handicap start may not seem enough for Bath against a dangerous Gloucester side.

But rugby matches aren't won and lost on past performance, they are fought out on the pitch and Bath may have enough fight about them to keep this clash close.

Only one of their three defeats this term has been by a double-figure margin and they are on home soil at the Rec, where through the second half of last season they claimed four wins, two bonus-point defeats and a draw.

A losing run can, of course, have negative effects but it can also ramp up a team's intensity, and that is where Bath can cash in against a Gloucester side who have played just two matches this season after a bye week in round two and last week's cancelled fixture against Worcester.

The Cherry & White gave notice of their ambitions this season by taking a 36-30 lead at Saracens in round three, although they were overhauled in the last minute to lose 41-39.

The parts may not yet all be in place for Gloucester at this stage of a stop-start campaign and that may be the spur that Bath need to go on the front foot and keep this one close too.

Also in the Premiership on Saturday Sale, who have three wins from as many matches, are given a seven-point start for their trip to Leicester, while in the big derby clash in the United Rugby Championship Scarlets give up four points at home to Cardiff (Premier Sports, 5.15pm).

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