Bristol Bears can make Wasps work for first cup win

Wasps v Bristol
BT Sport 2, 3pm Sunday

Wasps have brought back seven senior players in anticipation of next week's return to Premiership action but Bristol with a start of 15 still appeals as the bet in the televised Premiership Cup clash at the Ricoh Arena.

Heavy showers may linger in Coventry, making expansive play hard and a number of experienced players return to the Bears matchday squad too. Big-name Kiwis Charles Piutau, John Afoa and Steven Luatua start while evergreen Wallabies legend George Smith is on the bench.

They probably expect to exit the tournament in the pool stages along with their hosts, whatever the result, but at least they can draw on the comfort of a hard-earned Ashton Gate victory over Gloucester last weekend, while Wasps were turned over at home by Northampton despite bossing possession and territory.

Bristol are yet to win on the road in any competition on their top-flight return but they have not always been overrun and Wasps have triumphed only once in front of their own fans this season and that was a 41-35 success against Leicester.

At Allianz Park, a solid-looking Saracens selection are asked to give up 18 points to a much less experienced Worcester outfit than the ones who have begun the Premiership Cup with back-to-back bonus-point wins.

England's disappointment was obvious after they were edged out 16-15 by New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday when a late Sam Underhill try was disallowed after being referred to the TMO.

Racing Post Sport's Graham Woods advised an All Blacks win by one to 12 points at 23-10.

Recommendations
Bristol +15
1pt 10-11 Coral, Ladbrokes, Sky Bet

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