Where to watch
Bordeaux-Begles vs Leicester
Premier Sports 1, 1pm
Toulouse vs Ulster
Premiers Sports 1, 3.15pm
Bristol vs Leinster
Premier Sports 1, 5.30pm
Match predictions & best bets
Bordeaux -19
1pt 10-11 general
G Ibitoye to score a try for Bristol vs Leinster
1pt 2-1 bet365
Predictions
Bordeaux don’t boast a rich European pedigree but everyone sat up and noticed when they topped a tough pool in last season’s European Champions Cup and blew away former winners Saracens 45-12 in the round of 16 having already beaten the Premiership side 55-15 in the pool stage.
Their run was ended in an extraordinary 42-41 quarter-final defeat at home to Harlequins, but Bordeaux started out as joint third-favourites to life the trophy this season and are second in the Top 14.
They are asked to give up a handicap start in the high teens to Premiership side Leicester on Sunday, and while that line may raise an eyebrow initially, the French side and their star-studded squad have run up some big scores at home and take on a Tigers team missing some of their rested internationals.
Fly-half Handre Pollard, England lock George Martin and Wales back-row forward Tommy Reffell are all sidelined, while France internationals Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey line up in the back three for Bordeaux.
Bordeaux are the top scorers in France with 350 points from 11 games and picked up try bonus points in all four of their pool matches last season. If they click into gear from the off they look good for another big win.
Holders and favourites Toulouse are an even shorter price to make a winning start against Ulster, who get a 26-point start in France.
These teams met in Belfast last season when Toulouse ran out convincing 48-24 winners, and Ulster are yet to win away from home this season while three of their last four road matches in the Champions Cup have ended in defeat by more than 20 points.
Last up is a clash between Bristol and Leinster which – if the weather allows – has the potential to turn into a high-scoring thriller.
Hosts Bristol are ten-point underdogs but under coach Pat Lam they have shown a fearless attacking style that has propelled them to second in the Premiership table.
They are the league’s top scorers with 36 tries and won’t be afraid to fight fire with fire against Leinster who yet again dominating the United Rugby Championship with seven wins from seven.
All eyes will be on four-time European champions Leinster, who are set to give a debut to All Black Jordie Barrett from the bench.
But while the Irish outfit have try threats all across the pitch, Bristol have a real focus in winger Gabriel Ibitoye, who is the Premiership’s top scorer with six tries. He looks generously priced at 2-1 to get in on the action if Bristol stick to their attacking principles.
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The post European Champions Cup predictions & rugby betting tips first appeared on Rugby 247.
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2024-12-07 16:17:10
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