Bath Rugby vs Harlequins Picks and Odds
By Robert Duff in Rugby
Published:
- Harlequins are 10.5-point home favorites over Bath in the Rugby Premiership match on Saturday, May 29th
- Last week’s loss to Leicester Tigers ended the Quins’ three-match winning streak
- Bath have lost their last three matches
It’s been five years since Harlequins swept the Rugby Premiership season series from Bath. The Quins look to be well-positioned to end that drought when the two sides clash on Saturday at the Twickenham Stoop.
Fourth in the table and seeking to lock up a playoff position, Harlequins are solid 10.5-point favorites to maintain their home winning streak over Bath. For ninth in the table Bath, they’ll be looking to end a three-match losing skid and move into the top eight to secure a position in Europe for next season.
Bath Rugby vs Harlequins Rugby Premiership Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Rugby | +310 | +10.5 (-113) | OFF |
| Harlequins | -455 | -10.5 (-113) | OFF |
Odds as of May 28th.
Kickoff for Saturday’s match is 9am ET at the Twickenham Stoop. Interestingly, Bath’s last victory was a 21-20 triumph over Leicester Tigers. It was Leicester that beat the Quins 35-29 last week to halt the latter’s three-match win streak.
Quins Cooking At Home
After getting off to an 0-2-1 start, Harlequins have won six matches in a row at home and are unbeaten in seven. That’s the club’s best run of home succes in the Rugby Premiership since the 2014-15 season. They’ll get the added boost of 4,000 spectators at Saturday’s match, as COVID-19 restrictions are loosened across the United Kingdom.
However, Bath have come away clean with successive victories in their last two visits to Twickenham Stoop. They won 41-27 last season and took a 37-32 decision during the 2018-19 season.
Bath haven’t not won three successive league fixtures at the venue since the days of the old Courage League division one between 1993-1995.
Harlequins beat Bath 28-15 at the Recreation Ground on February 6th.
Brown Loses Appeal
The last glimmer of hope that England full-back Mike Brown might play again with the Quins evaporated this week. Brown lost his appeal of a six-match ban in front of the Rugby Union Disciplinary Panel.
Mike Brown fails in his appeal against six-game ban for stamping. He has played his last game for Harlequins
— Alex Spink (@alexspinksport) May 27, 2021
Brown, 35, was sent off against Wasps for stamping on the head of hooker Tommy Taylor in a May 9th match. Brown is to join Newcastle Falcons next season.
Harlequins Add Wallace
Looking to bolster their side for a playoff run, Harlequins have picked up veteran back-row forward Luke Wallace from Leicester.
Wallace, 30, made 169 appearances in a previous stint with Quins. He’ll provide cover for the loss of Will Evans to a season-ending injury. Wallace signed a contract that runs through the 2021-22 season.
😍 𝙃𝙚'𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙩.
✍️ @lukey_wallace has re-joined the Club with immediate effect from Leicester Tigers.
📲 https://t.co/jrnh6rtrhG#COYQ pic.twitter.com/RKMhtjKztl
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) May 27, 2021
Bath also also announced two roster moves this week that will take effect next season. The club signed Scottish international tighthead prop D’Arcy Rae from Glasgow Warriors and South African tighthead prop Johannes Jonker from Championship leaders Ealing Trailfinders.
Lineup News
Harlequins are opting to go with the same starting 15 that lost last week at Leicester. Two changes to the subs bench will see the return of back row forward Archie White and outside back Aaron Morris to the squad.
Bath have instituted wholesale changes to the side that fell last week to Sale Sharks. Eight new players draw in this week.
🚨 Your Bath Rugby team is in…
🔵 Bath Rugby makes 8 changes to the run on XV
⚫️ @OjomohM and @jamiebhatti get their first Gallagher Premiership starts
⚪️ Jacques du Toit and @WillStuart10 recovers from injury#WeAreBath— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) May 28, 2021
Prop Jamie Bhatti and centre Max Ojomoh are making their first Premiership starts for Bath. Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau, hooker Jacques Du Toit, flanker Miles Reid, winger Joe Cokanasiga, tighthead prop Will Stuart and scrum-half Ben Spencer are among those back for the Blue, Black and Whites.
Jonathan Joseph, out the last two games due to injury, is named to the subs bench.
Pick: Harlequins -10.5 (-113)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
