Friday's Premiership and United Rugby Championship predictions & rugby betting tips: Leinster can edge a Thomond Park win

Where to watch 

Leinster v Munster
7.30pm, Premier Sports 2
Bristol v Sale
7.45pm, TNT Sports 1

Match prediction & best bets

Leinster to win by one to 12 points
1pt 8-5 bet365
Bristol -9
2pts 10-11 general

Predictions

Leinster's 100 per cent start to the United Rugby Championship this season included a 26-12 home win over Munster in October but things could be closer in Friday's return encounter in Limerick.

Leo Cullen's men have won 13 of their last 15 meetings with their key rivals, and won the last five clashes on Munster soil, but only one of those victories came by more than a converted try.

Munster were sunk by half-time, trailing 21-5 at the break when they last met, in October, but they kept Leinster scoreless in the second half and look sure to dig in again.

The Munster men make seven changes from the team that beat Ulster last week including the return of captain Tadhg Beirne, and while they may not have the strength to claim a victory, they can again keep things close.

After pulling off their most eye-catching result of the season last week, winning 54-24 at Leicester, Bristol are back on home soil and are nine-point favourites to follow up against Sale in Friday's Premiership offering.

The Bears were six tries to the good before half-time at Welford Road as they executed their all-out attacking style to devastating effect.

That victory came at a cost, though, as fly-half AJ MacGinty was forced off injured and 21-year-old Sam Worsley wears the number ten shirt for this clash.

Bristol may not be able to keep on attacking with the same intensity and tempo every week but they have bagged a try bonus point in every Premiership match this season and have the league's top scorer in winger Gabriel Ibitoye.

Sale have lost all three of their away matches in the Premiership this season by a double-figure margin and Bristol look well equipped to extend that run.

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