Champions Cup Predictions – Round 1

The Bulls, Sharks and Stormers will represent South Africa and are three of the eight United Rugby Championship sides who’ve qualified to compete in the premier club competition in the world, which also includes eight PREM outfits and eight TOP 14 teams.

The Stormers will look to set the tone for the local teams when they tackle Bayonne at Stade Jean Dauger on Friday night. The Bulls battle defending champions Bordeaux-Begles at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, while the Sharks tackle the most decorated side in the competition’s history in Toulouse at Stade Ernest-Wallon on Sunday.

Sale Sharks v Glasgow Warriors

Friday, 5 December – 22:00

Winning one’s home games is always important, but especially so in the Champions Cup. Those who didn’t watch the game and only saw the result, that the Warriors were blanked 23-0 by the Scarlets away from home last weekend, would confidently back Sale to bank the win in this one.

However, Glasgow rested their Scottish stars and several first-choice players against the Welsh side, showing that Franco Smith plans to give it a full go in the Champions Cup. Fresh and ready to fire, the Warriors will be back at full-strength and should see off a Sharks side who’ve won just one of their last six games.

Prediction: Glasgow Warriors by 5.

Suggested Bet: Glasgow Warriors at 2.10.

Bayonne v Stormers

Friday, 5 December – 22:00

The Stormers made a good first impression in the European top-flight by qualifying for the quarter-finals in 2022-23, and after missing out on the playoffs last year, the Capetonians are setting their sights on the semi-finals.

“It’s a great competition and it’s always special to play away at these great European stadiums. We’re playing against quality sides with international stars,” said Stormers legend Deon Fourie.

“We’ve tasted the quarter-finals before, so to get into a semi-final is the goal. For me, the most difficult game is always the semi-final; if you win that, you’re in the final – and anyone can win that. So, the goal is to get into that semi-final,” he added.

The Stormers are red-hot and staged one of the best comebacks in URC history last weekend to beat Munster 27-21 in Limerick to remain unbeaten and at the top of the log.

Bayonne are fifth in the TOP 14 with a record of 7-4 and are coming off a 22-20 win over Lyon. They’ve alternated wins and losses in their last six games, however, the more important factor is that they’re on a 10-match unbeaten streak at home.

Their last defeat on home soil was a 32-22 reverse against the Bulls in last season’s Champions Cup. The Stormers will take heart from that, and with their undefeated run – which includes four away wins – and balanced game, they’re well worth backing.

Prediction: Stormers by 2.  

Suggested Bet: Stormers at 2.00.

Saracens v Clermont

Saturday, 6 December – 15:00

Saracens’ domestic form has been mixed – including a 36-29 defeat to Bath – but they remain a dangerous, well-drilled side capable of grinding out results under pressure.

Meanwhile, Clermont arrive in decent shape with three wins in their last four TOP 14 games. Their performances reflect a side with a lot of potency on attack, but they’ve also suffered some big losses, and this should be one of the latter.   

Prediction: Saracens by 15.

Suggested Bet: Saracens -14 at 1.90.

Bulls v Bordeaux-Begles

Saturday, 6 December – 17:15

The Bulls’ character and quality will be tested when they kick off their campaign against the defending champions.

The Pretoria outfit, who featured in the final eight back in the 2023-24 season, are coming off a shock 43-33 home loss to the Lions, which underpinned how they’re still coming to grips with life under new coach Johan Ackermann.

In eighth place in the URC with a 3-3 record, they’re struggling with teething problems, most notably, on defence. They’ve conceded the most points (190) and tries (27) in the URC, which is a major concern for them going into this clash.

After winning the Champions Cup for the first time last season, Bordeaux won’t give up the crown without a fight. They’re sixth in the TOP 14 with a record of 6-5, so they have issues of their own.

The slew of Boks who are expected to return will significantly bolster the Bulls, but will it transform them? If the French giants field their best team, the Bulls will be in trouble, but I’m banking on the power of their all-Bok front row and the tactical prowess of Handre Pollard to pull it through for the hosts.

Prediction: Bulls by 1.

Suggested Bet: Bulls by 1.72.

La Rochelle v Leicester Tigers

Saturday, 6 December – 19:30

Two-time European champions La Rochelle enter this match off a mixed TOP 14 run this season, but when they bring their intensity and structure, especially at home, they remain among the clubs widely regarded as contenders in the Champions Cup (fifth outright at 15.00).

The Leicester Tigers have momentum on their side in the form of five straight domestic wins, but facing La Rochelle at home is a different kettle of fish, as they found out when they went down 45-12 on their previous visit last year. With heavyweight power, passion and dangerous backs, La Rochelle should get off to a good start.

Prediction: La Rochelle by 18.

Suggested Bet: La Rochelle -11 at 1.90.

Leinster v Harlequins

Saturday, 6 December – 19:30

The second most successful team in Champions Cup history, Leinster are always there or thereabout and this season will be no different. The four-time European kings are joint-title favourites with Toulouse (both 3.50 outright) and will look to lay down a marker.

Wins have been hard to come by for ‘Quins domestically and will be even harder still at this, the pinnacle of club rugby. Their only consolation is that this won’t be worse than their trip to Dublin last season, when they were massacred 62-0.

Prediction: Leinster by 38.

Scarlets v Bristol Bears

Saturday, 6 December – 22:00

The Scarlets carry the hopes of a nation on their shoulders as Wales’ flag-bearers. To be frank, they don’t have a chance in hell of claiming the title and they likely won’t even win this home game first up.

Last weekend’s 23-0 win over a second-string Warriors side was a great shot in the arm as it snapped a six-game losing streak and came at the perfect time.

However, Bristol have won four of their six PREM games and their inventive attack and physical defence will see the visitors leave victorious.

Prediction: Bristol Bears by 6.

Suggested Bet: Scarlets +8 at 1.90.

Bath v Munster

Saturday, 6 December – 22:00

Bath are back in the big time and they’re not here to take part, they’re here to take over. The odds-makers know just what a quality side they are and have them fourth outright at 8.00.

Johann van Graan has built Bath into a monster, who not only crushed Lyon 37-12 in last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup final but also won the PREM and Premiership Cup. They’ve carried that form over to this season’s PREM where they’re top of the log with five wins out of six.

Munster are a great test for them considering the Irish club were unbeaten before their six-point loss to the Stormers last weekend. With Bath being at home, where they’ve won 17 of their last 18 games, and having the virtuoso that is Finn Russell at flyhalf, they should prevail.

Prediction: Bath by 5.

Suggested Bet: Munster +11 at 1.90.

Pau v Northampton Saints

Sunday, 7 December – 15:00

In a highly intriguing clash, last year’s runners-up Northampton open their campaign with a trip away to Pau. The French club return to the European top-tier for the first time in 25 years and are currently making waves in the TOP 14 in second place.

The Saints are third on the PREM log and have plenty of firepower and flair. However, Pau have won eight on the trot at home, including a 20-point triumph over La Rochelle last weekend, and given the significance of this fixture for them, they should edge it. 

Prediction: Pau by 2.

Suggested Bet: Pau by 2.62.

Toulouse v Sharks

Sunday, 7 December – 17:15

The Sharks are a team in disarray, and unfortunately, the time they had to work on their issues during the Test break didn’t do much to change that as they crashed to a 44-17 loss to Connacht last weekend.

In lowly 14th place in the URC with just one win in six games, not even their army of Boks who might return will help them avoid a hiding at the hands of their star-studded hosts, who are leading the way in the TOP 14.

The record six-time Champions Cup winners smashed the Sharks 54-20 in the Durbanites’ only quarter-final appearance to date back in 2022-23 and they’ll inflict more hurt on them here.

Prediction: Toulouse by 37.

Suggested Bet: Toulouse -35 at 1.90.

Gloucester v Castres

Sunday, 7 December – 17:15

Gloucester have started the PREM poorly but have now won three in a row across their two domestic competitions. With a 6-5 record in the TOP 14, Castres have been blowing hot and cold.

French teams generally don’t travel well and history shows that they’ve lost all three of their previous trips to Kingsholm (24-22 in 2022, 35-5 and 30-25, both in 2024). That streak should continue.  

Prediction: Gloucester by 9.

Suggested Bet: Castres +7 at 1.90.

Edinburgh v Toulon

Sunday, 7 December – 19:30

Last weekend’s 19-17 victory over the Ospreys was just the second of Edinburgh’s URC campaign. While it was a welcome boost, they’ll have to up their game several notches if they want to defend their turn against Toulon.

Three-time Champions Cup winners, Toulon have class across the pack and backline and a great pedigree. Third in the TOP 14, they’ll be too much for Sean Everitt’s men to handle.

Prediction: Toulon by 8.

Suggested Bet: Toulon -5 at 1.90.