Gloucester v Wasps predictions and rugby union tips: Wasps face tough opener

Free rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for Gloucester v Wasps in the Premiership on Sunday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 3pm Sunday

Best bet

Gloucester -7
1pt Evs bet365

Preview

Wasps survived a summer filled with financial worries but their problems are far from over and playoff hopefuls Gloucester won’t be doing them any favours at Kingsholm.

A debt of £35 million still hangs over Wasps and has hindered preparations for the new campaign with the club only recently emerging from a recruitment embargo.

While they have managed to secure some new additions, most notably prop Vincent Koch and centre Burger Odendaal, more players have left the club, leaving a Wasps team who finished ninth last season thin in certain areas.

Beyond a pack that contains England duo Joe Launchbury and Alfie Barbeary, there are a few holes in this Wasps side that could be exposed by a Gloucester team who narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season.

The Cherry & Whites have retained largely the same squad that finished fifth, comprising a bruising pack who scored a league-high 20 tries from mauls last term and some quality operators among the backs, including wingers Louis Rees-Zammit and Ollie Thorley.

Gloucester won eight of their 12 home league matches in the previous campaign, covering Sunday’s seven-point handicap in six of those victories and can get off the mark in fine style at the expense of a Wasps side who didn’t travel well last season.

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