Champions Cup Betting Tips: How Will The First Legs Go?
Daire Walsh
Now that the Six Nations Championship has come and gone for 2022, the wider rugby fraternity will be switching their attention to the forthcoming Heineken Champions Cup.
After being placed on the sidelines for the past couple of months, this top-tier European competition will be back with a bang on the weekend after next and the best betting sites for rugby union are offering some interesting odds for who will emerge from the round of 16 and into the quarter-final stage.
April 8
Connacht v Leinster
It will be a quick reunion for these Irish provinces at the Galway Sportsgrounds, given they clashed at the same venue in the United Rugby Championship as recently as last Saturday. The third-minute red card dished out to centre Tom Daly meant Connacht were always going to be under the cosh and Leinster ultimately cruised to a 45-8 victory.
Given this game took place just seven days on from Ireland securing a Six Nations Triple Crown, there were some star names missing out of both squads. A number of Andy Farrell’s frontline internationals are expected to see game time in the United Rugby Championship this weekend – Connacht visit Italian side Benetton, while Leinster are away to arch rivals Munster – which will help to bring them up to speed for their European showdown.
Andy Friend’s Connacht have produced some special performances on home turf and will be hoping to have something to play for ahead of their return leg at Thomond Park. Still, Leinster currently have a five point lead at the summit of the URC with a game in hand and it is hard to bet against them in either leg.
First leg prediction: Leinster at 1/6 (Paddy Power)
April 9
Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears
If current Connacht head coach Andy Friend is up against it on Friday, April 8, then the same is true of another former steward of the western province. Ex-Samoan international Pat Lam has enjoyed success with both the Irish side and his present charges Bristol Bears, but they are rank outsiders to overcome Sale Sharks in AJ Bell Stadium.
While Bristol have some supremely gifted players within their ranks, they are currently five places and 19 points adrift of Sale in the Gallagher Premiership table.
First leg prediction: Sale Sharks at 2/5 (Unibet)
Bordeaux v La Rochelle
The all-French showdown of Bordeaux and La Rochelle at Stade Chaban-Delmas is a mouthwatering one and will be a real test of the latter’s resolve after they finished runners-up in last year’s competition.
Combining the roles of Director of Rugby and head coach this season, Ronan O’Gara has overseen some mixed results in the Top 14. Though they are currently in the play-off spots, Bordeaux are leading the way in the table after 19 games.
It is unlikely that this tie will be decided after just one leg, but home comforts could well work in Bordeaux’s favour on Saturday week.
First leg prediction: Bordeaux at 4/7 (888sport)
Toulouse v Ulster
Naturally, eyes will be drawn to defending champions Toulouse as they welcome Ulster to Le Stadium. Before knocking out Munster at the same stage last season, the French titans enjoyed a superb 36-8 win over Ulster at the quarter-final phase of the 2019/20 Champions Cup.
Ulster might have preferred to face Toulouse in Belfast the first time out and have something to hold onto the second leg. As it is, a star-studded line-up featuring Antoine Dupont and Cheslin Kolbe could prove too much to handle.
First leg prediction: Toulouse to win by 8-14 points at 7/2 (Paddy Power)
Exeter v Munster
Two-time European winners Munster are aiming to avoid a repeat of their last-16 exit to Toulouse 12 months ago and it is 2019/20 champions Exeter who stand in their way on this occasion. Whilst Munster were one of just five teams with a perfect record of four wins from as many games in the pool stages, Exeter emerged with two victories and two losses to their name.
They comfortably put Montpellier and Glasgow Warriors to the sword at Sandy Park, however, and this makes them a dangerous proposition for Johann van Graan’s men.
First leg prediction: Exeter to win by 1-7 points at 11/4 (Paddy Power)
Stade Francais v Racing 92
Because it is a Parisienne derby, the meeting of Stade Francais and Racing 92 understandably is seen as one of the tightest games in the round of 16.
Less than five miles separates Stade’s Stade Jean-Bouin from the Paris La Défense Arena that Racing call home and while the latter are in a much better position in the Top 14, it might count for little on Saturday week. Draws can be quite rare in the modern game of rugby, but this is a game that is quite hard to call on paper.
First leg prediction: Draw at 18/1 (William Hill)
April 10
Montpellier v Harlequins
Currently under the guidance of former international head coach Philippe Saint-André, Montpellier benefited from receiving an aforementioned 28-0 walkover from Leinster in the pool stages. They recovered from a drubbing at the hands of the Irish province to beat Exeter in their final game of the preliminary phase and will be hoping this can fuel a strong performance against Harlequins at Altrad Stadium.
Yet – outside of Leinster in the opening game on Saturday, April 8 – defending Premiership champions Harlequins look like the kind of team that could pull off an away win, particularly if Marcus Smith is firing on all cylinders.
First leg prediction: Harlequins to win by 1-7 points at 7/2 (Paddy Power)
Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers
The final game of a bumper European weekend will be Leicester’s visit to Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
Despite their contrasting league fortunes – Clermont are 8th in Top 14, whereas Leicester are runaway Premiership leaders – the French side are the favourites to win the first leg. Their English counterparts could have something to say about that, though, especially when they will have so many international stars in the fold for this trip abroad.
First leg prediction: Leicester to lead at half-time/full-time at 3/1 (Paddy Power)