Rugby betting: Guinness Premiership preview

Bet of the weekend is London Irish receiving a handicap start, when they host Sale Sharks in Reading on Sunday. London Irish have a decent record at the Madejski Stadium this season, with only high-flying Bath winning there in the Guinness Premiership, and even then Bath only edged it 22-20. Click here for a free Stan James £25 to bet on rugby with Stan James Gloucester have tasted defeat there, and although Sale are the Premiership's form team right now, Stan James really have gone out on a limb by giving the Exiles a four-point start. Philippe Saint Andre's northern raiders have gained 23 points in their last six Premiership outings but the key element to this match could be the line-out. Irish have the best lineout in the Premiership - they have won the most ball in the league from this particular restart - whereas Sale have lost the most throw-ins this season. Patchy weather is forecast for Reading, and with such unpredictable conditions, Shane Geraghty, who starts at inside-centre - will be looking to kick to the corners. To show that coach Brian Smith has this tactic in mind, kicking fly-half Jeremy Staunton warms the bench just in case. In the live matches, Bath look a decent bet in their home West Country derby against league-leaders Gloucester. Bath have never lost to Gloucester in 16 league fixtures at The Rec and at evens with VCbet, Bath look value. Premiership top tryscorer Lesley Vainikolo and fellow winger James Simpson-Daniel have both been ruled out for the visitors, making life much easier for the home side. Harlequins rarely roll over in the face of a Leicester onslaught and with former Tigers No. 8 Dean Richards pulling the strings for the Londoners, Sunday's fixture between the two may be closer than the bookmakers think. Skybet have given Harlequins a six-point start at the Stoop, and Quins got their show back on the road last week when out-gunning Worcester at Sixways. It was a dour encounter, with Quins winning 10-7, but it highlighted that Richards' men are back in winning ways since their slump during the Heineken Cup. Verdict: 2pts London Irish +4 @ 10/11 (Stan James); 2pts Bath @ evens (VCbet) Click here for a free Stan James £25 to bet on rugby with Stan James