Friday's Premiership & Pro14 betting preview, free tips & where to watch

Free Rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for Gloucester Rugby v Sale Sharks in the Premiership and Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues & Leinster v Glasgow Warriors in the Pro14.

Where to watch

Gloucester v Sale
BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Friday
Edinburgh v Cardiff
Premier Sports 1, 7.35pm Friday
Leinster v Glasgow
Premier Sports 2, 7.35pm Friday

Best bets

Sale +3
1pt 10-11 general
Edinburgh -13
1pt 10-11general
Leinster -13
1pt 10-11general

Friday Premiership & Pro14 rugby preview

Sale suffered a heavy defeat at Saracens on their last Premiership awayday but there are good reasons to think that they can stay within three points of Gloucester at a forecast wet and windy Kingsholm.

The second-placed Sharks bounced back from that Allianz Park loss with a big home win over Leicester last Friday and they ended last month with a gritty 22-19 success over leaders Exeter at Sandy Park.

Sale have also won on the road at London Irish this league campaign while their three other road reverses have seen losing bonus points gained at Bristol, Worcester and Bath. They lost 16-14 at the Rec.

Gloucester scraped an 18-16 win in Salford in round one but they lost both last season's Premiership meetings with the Sharks including a 30-14 reverse at Kingsholm. Sale also stayed within five points of their hosts on their 2017-18 visit.

The Cherry & Whites have slipped down to seventh in the table after three straight league defeats to Bristol, Exeter and London Irish and their 26-15 loss to the Chiefs, in the rain, was their second this campaign in front of the Shed faithful.

In the Pro14 Edinburgh and Leinster both look good to cover 13-point handicaps against visitors Cardiff and Glasgow.

Edinburgh enjoyed a 41-14 success over Connacht at Murrayfield last weekend to make it six wins in seven matches and they have won all six home outings this campaign, four by 14 points or more. The Blues lost 29-0 in Galway a fortnight ago and got into a ding-dong battle with Benetton at the Arms Park on Sunday.

Runaway Conference A leaders Leinster earned a gritty 21-13 success against Ospreys at the Gnoll in Neath last Friday but all has been serene in Dublin for the defending champions this term. And it should be again when they host Glasgow.

Leinster won 23-10 at Scotstoun in November and have scored 33 or more points in winning all six home league games, five by 14 points or more and one by 12. The Warriors have lost by ten or more at the Cheetahs, Dragons and Edinburgh this season.

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