Premiership rugby union predictions, betting tips and odds: Bears won't go down without a fight

Where to watch 

Bath v Bristol
TNT Sports 1, 7.45pm Friday

Leicester v Sale
TNT Sports 2, 3.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Bristol +13
2pts 10-11 BoyleSports

Already advised

Bath to win Grand Final
3pts 100-30 September 20

Predictions

Bath are odds-on favourites to win this year's Premiership Grand Final after a regular-season campaign in which they topped the table and lost just four of 18 matches.

But two of those defeats came against semi-final opponents Bristol, including their only home loss, and Bristol won't lack confidence or fighting spirit when they head back to the Rec on Friday evening.

The Bears haven't shown the kind of ruthless consistency that pushed Bath 11 points clear of the pack this season, but they are the only team to have shown a similar attacking edge, stacking up 635 points to Bath's 651 and running in 95 tries to 96.

The last time we saw Bristol in the playoffs was a crazy semi-final in 2021, when they threw away a 28-0 lead to draw 31-31 with Harlequins and then lose out 43-36 in extra time.

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And you wouldn't bet against a similar rollercoaster ride in Friday's match. Bath put only two tries on the board in their 36-14 defeat to Bristol last month, their lowest return in a league match this season, but they fielded a weakened team the week after their European Challenge Cup semi-final success and are at full strength for this clash.

The points line was 53.5 when the teams met in round three in September but has been pushed up all the way to 72.5 for the May showdown between the teams. We may not reach quite that mark in a knockout contest but both sides are sure to look to their attacking resources and Bristol have more than enough to keep this closer than a double-figure handicap.

Bristol wingers Gabriel Ibitoye and Kalaveti Ravouvou sit joint-first and third in the Premiership tryscoring charts with total of 13 and 11 but the threats come from all over the pitch. Forwards George Kloska and Joe Batley bagged the first two tries - inside four minutes - in last week's win over Quins while dangerous ball carriers Viliame Mata and Benhard Janse van Rensburg also got on the scoresheet.

Bath ended the season with the best defence of any club and that may prove key to their hopes of reaching the final, but Bristol look primed to push them all the way.

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