Friday's Premiership & Pro14 match betting preview, free rugby union tips

Free Rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for Bristol v Wasps in the Premiership and Ulster v Connacht in the Pro14.

Where to watch

Bristol Bears v Wasps
BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Friday

Ulster v Connacht
Premier Sports 2, 7.35pm Friday

Best bets

Bristol Bears -9
1pt 10-11 Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes

Ulster -12
1pt 10-11general

Preview

Bristol Bears have won only one of their last 15 Premiership meetings with Wasps but they can maintain their unbeaten home start to the season and give up nine points on the handicap at Ashton Gate.

The Bears were overrun 47-13 at Saracens last Saturday but they did worry the points-ravenous kings of England and Europe by taking a 13-0 lead.

And Pat Lam’s charges should have had any complacency about getting a victory in front of their fervent fans knocked out of them by the 27-27 home draw with London Irish at the start of the month before they made it 19 points out of 20 in the European Challenge Cup with back-to-back successes over Stade Francais.

Bristol have also beaten Bath 43-16 in the league at Ashton Gate this term and outmuscled Sale 16-10. While on the road, the Bears’ best result has been to chin Exeter 20-17 with a last-play try after being 17-0 down at the break.

Wobbling Wasps, with two Premiership wins out of six this term, succumbed 28-22 at home to Harlequins last time out after leading 17-0 and have been beaten 25-9 at Gloucester, 28-18 at Sale and 38-3 at Exeter away from the Ricoh Arena.

In the Pro14, Ulster should be backed to give up 12 points to Connacht.

Ulster, who are the nearest pursuers to Leinster in Conference A and top their pool in the European Champions Cup with four wins out of four, could have rolled over in Dublin last Friday at 47-14 down with half an hour left but instead rallied to lose only 54-42 against the leaders.

Dan McFarland's side have beaten Ospreys 38-14, Cardiff 24-13, Zebre 22-7 and Scarlets 29-5 and can land a cosy victory.

Connacht won 22-15 in Belfast last season but a 41st-minute red card for Ulster backrower Matthew Rea effectively decided the contest and a string of absences this term have meant the Galway gang have come up short in the majority of their most meaningful matches.

They have lost both home inter-pros this campaign to Leinster and Munster, are all but out of the Champions Cup and were beaten 18-10 at Conference B playoff rivals Scarlets in the opening round.

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