Sale v London Irish predictions and rugby union tips: Sharks should stay perfect

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

Where to watch

Sale Sharks v London Irish
BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

Sale to win by one to 12 points
1pt 7-4 bet365

Match preview

The dark cloud that settled over the Premiership in the summer shows no sign of moving on with the news Wasps are set to follow Worcester into administration, overshadowing some excellent on-pitch action in the early stages of the season.

The tries, points and drama have gushed out of games with London Irish amongst the league’s great entertainers. Only Exeter (23) have scored more tries than the Exiles (22), with the likes of Henry Arundell and Ollie Hassell-Collins capable of making something out of nothing.

And yet, London Irish’s swashbuckling style has equated to just one win in three games, thanks in large part to the defence conceding 116 points.

A leaky defence and a team missing the game-breaking talent of Arundell isn’t a good combination for an encounter with an unbeaten Sale side sat in second boasting a 100 per cent record and the best defence in the competition.

The Sharks have impressively seen off champions Leicester and Exeter in their last two outings and are double-digit favourites to follow up those successes by downing London Irish on a wet night in Greater Manchester.

Sale’s powerful pack and astute kicking game will be a tough one-two combination to overcome if the forecast for rain proves correct but London Irish’s attacking skillset may see them hang on to the Sharks’ tails.

Three of Sale’s four wins this season have been by margins of ten points or less, while London Irish’s last two outings have been settled by four and nine points respectively.

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