By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports
Teams in the Gallagher Premiership will leave it all on the pitch before the break for the autumn internationals.
Bristol Bears will take on Northampton Saints for the weekend’s opening game. Both teams played some great rugby during the initial phase of the competition, and the two sides will likely be in contention towards the business end of the season.
This means that a win will go a long way in shaping how the table will look come springtime.
Both squads favour an attacking style, which is entertaining for fans. In terms of betting, some options could interest people.
Bristol Bears
The Bears have been impressive this season and look like genuine title contenders. Pat Lam’s small squad has been making inroads on the league table lately.
If the season ended today, they would be in the playoffs, yet there is still an abundance of rugby to be played.
They are coming off a narrow defeat to Saracens; it was a close contest that ended 37-35, with Bristol allowing their opponents to come back into the game.
This loss highlighted Bristol’s struggles with defensive transitioning and keeping Saracens under sustained pressure.
However, in their previous encounters with Northampton, Bristol has shown a strong defensive game, which could be a key factor in the upcoming match.
The Bears will look to return to winning ways at home at Ashton Gate against Northampton. It will be an excellent opportunity to get back into the winner’s circle, as the Saints will feel the absence of many key players due to the autumn internationals.
On the other hand, Bristol has a nearly full squad, missing only Harry Randall and Ellis Genge.
A key player for the Bristolian side will be winger Gabriel Ibitoye, who lights up the pitch whenever he is involved.
Bristol hosts Northampton as clear favourites on Friday night and will look to put on a show in front of their home crowd.
Northampton Saints
Northampton faces a challenging task under the lights at Ashton Gate. The reigning champions currently sit fifth in the league table.
A win over Bristol could propel them into the top four. Sam Vesty has had to deal with key players leaving the club at the end of last year.
It is safe to say it’s not the same Saints side as last year, but they have still managed to achieve some great results.
Last week was a perfect example of this, as they dismantled the Sale Sharks 47-17, scoring tries at will.
They have one of the best backlines in the league, and it is no wonder those players have garnered so much interest from Steve Borthwick.
This means there will be no issue travelling to Bristol without George Furbank, Tommy Freeman, and Fin Smith.
Of course, they have also been missing scrum-half Alex Mitchell due to injury. These players are elite internationals who make a difference on the pitch.
It will be interesting to see how Northampton cope without them and whether they can get a decent result in Bristol.
One thing to note is that the Saints will be trying to capitalise on one of the Bears’ key weaknesses: securing results at home. Northampton will aim to secure a big win with a depleted side.
The Bets
Looking at the contest from a betting perspective, there are some interesting avenues to explore.
The best bet seems to be for Bristol to win by more than seven points; due to the nature of the international break, the Bears have a much stronger side.
There is even more value in backing Pat Lam’s side to secure victory by a winning margin of over 15.
Bristol could dominate Northampton, and there is a significant return if they win by more than 19 points.
The Bears are a strong bet because their core team remains largely intact, whereas the Saints are missing several of their stars.
Best Bet: Bristol Bears to win by more than seven points – 4/5
Value Bet: Bristol Bears to win by a winning margin of over 15 – 21/10
Longshot Bet: Bristol Bears to win by more than 19 points – 4/1
READ MORE: Gabriel Ibitoye can go to the next level says Pat Lam
