Adam Williams presents his prediction for the English Premiership rugby match.
In the standout match of the round, the second and third teams of the tournament clash. A convincing victory would enable Leicester Tigers to catch up with Bristol Bears on points, and whether they overtake them depends on the margin. This scenario is quite plausible.
Leicester Tigers
The past month and a half has been somewhat disappointing for the Tigers. They've won only two of their last six matches, albeit with emphatic scores. They first triumphed in the Premiership Cup against Nottingham (70:29), and less than a week ago, they defeated the Sharks from South Africa (56:17). It's worth noting that in the Premiership Cup, the Tigers didn't exert themselves too much, experimenting with line-ups. Hence, they even lost to Championship side Coventry (19:33). When it comes to home games, the situation is slightly better: three wins and two losses this season. One loss was to the aforementioned Coventry, and the other to Bath (15:20).
Bristol Bears
The Bears are on their second consecutive away weekend. Previously, they were defeated in the Champions Cup by La Rochelle (7:35). This was somewhat expected, given that La Rochelle are recent two-time champions of the tournament. This defeat was their second in a row in the Champions Cup, having first lost at home to Leinster (12:35). Across all competitions, Bristol Bears have performed well away from Ashton Gate, with four wins out of six this season.
Leicester Tigers vs Bristol Bears Prediction
The Bears' solid away record, combined with their last meeting with Leicester Tigers in April 2024 at Welford Road (19:21), offers hope for at least a narrow defeat, if not success for Bristol Bears.
