Gloucester v London Irish predictions and rugby union tips: Exiles undervalued

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Gloucester v London Irish in the Gallagher Premiership on Friday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

London Irish +6
2pts 20-21 Betfred

Match preview

London Irish are flying under the radar in the Premiership but may not be for much longer if a settled Exiles side can get the better of Gloucester.

Irish have escaped having their best players being cherry-picked for the Six Nations, allowing director of rugby Declan Kidney to make only minimal changes to the side who fought back from 14-0 down to beat Exeter last time out.

That was London Irish’s third win in their last four Premiership games and they are now sniffing a playoff place.

Gloucester are eight points better off in the final playoff spot after dispatching Newcastle with ease but are without five internationals for this game, including Louis Rees-Zammit.

The Welsh wing wizard’s ability to create something out of nothing will be sorely missed by a Cherry and Whites side who have been vulnerable at Kingsholm, losing half of their Premiership home games this season.

London Irish showed against Exeter they can stand up physically to the league’s big hitters and should enjoy the challenge of testing themselves against a Gloucester pack that bullied Newcastle.

With the Exiles losing one of the last seven in the Premiership and a tendency for these games to be tight - four of the last five meetings have been settled by six points or fewer - the visitors appeal with a six-point start.

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