Investec Champions Cup Predictions – Round 3

The Bulls will be out to break their duck when they welcome the Bristol Bears to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, with the Sharks taking on their namesakes, the Sale Sharks, at CorpAcq Stadium in the evening.

Sunday will see the Stormers put their undefeated record on the line against Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop.

Castres v Bath

Friday, 9 January – 22:00

Bath head into the unknown in this first-ever clash but are more equipped to emerge victorious than their hosts.

Both teams are 1-1, but the level of competition they faced was chalk and cheese with Castres falling 34-14 to Gloucester and blanking Edinburgh 33-0, while Bath mauled Munster 40-14 and went blow-for-blow with Toulon before succumbing 45-34.

The PREM champions, expertly coached by Johann van Graan, will focus inward and strive to uphold the lofty standards they set for themselves, and if they do, they’ll be golden.

Prediction: Bath by 3.

Suggested Bet: Castres +8 at 1.90.

Edinburgh v Gloucester

Friday, 9 January – 22:00

Teams who’ve had a tough time as of late collide in the Scottish capital.

Edinburgh started their campaign on an extremely positive note by turning back Toulon 33-20 before basically conceding their away game at Castres (33-0).

Back-to-back losses to local rivals Glasgow in the United Rugby Championship followed, but a timely 15-14 away win over Benetton last weekend should serve as the shot in the arm they need to fend off their English visitors.

Prediction: Edinburgh by 8.

Suggested Bet: Gloucester +16 at 1.90.

Bulls v Bristol Bears

Saturday, 10 January – 15:00

Teams on opposite trajectories will battle it out at Loftus Versfeld. The Bulls are on a six-match losing streak in all competitions, including heavy defeats to reigning Champions Cup champions Bordeaux-Begles (46-33) and last season’s runners-up, the Northampton Saints (50-5).

The Bears, on the other hand, have won six on the bounce, including victories over the Scarlets (17-16) and Pau (61-12) in the opening fortnight of the Champions Cup. The men from Bristol find themselves in third place in Pool 4 on nine points, with the Bulls fifth with just a solitary point.

This match boils down to motivation. Johan Ackermann’s charges may have lost 13-8 to arch-rivals the Stormers last weekend, but they were streaks better than they were in previous outings, particularly on defence, where they were uber-physical and plugged several of the holes that had plagued them.

It was all a case of rising to the occasion in the north-south derby, and while they were pipped at the death, they’ll take plenty of positives from their performance. So, when it comes to the question of how motivated they will be for this game, Ackermann has confirmed he’ll select his strongest team and that they’ll go all out.

With the Springbok coaches joining them this week to aid Ackermann following the firing of the assistant coaches he’d inherited, they’ll also have some fresh ideas and energy, so the Bulls should end their drought.

Prediction: Bulls by 5.

Suggested Bet: Bristol Bears +16 at 1.90.

Clermont v Glasgow Warriors

Saturday, 10 January – 17:15

The Warriors have made massive strides under Franco Smith. The South African-born coach guided them to URC glory in 2024 and has developed them into a team determined to break into the European elite (say as one of the top eight clubs).

In terms of statement wins, they don’t come any bigger than Glasgow’s 28-21 triumph over six-time champions Toulouse in the last round, especially given that they fought back from being 21-0 down.

The Scottish side top Pool 1 with two wins, while Clermont prop up the pool with two defeats. A Warriors win is by no means a formality, but they’ll give the hosts the respect they deserve and get the job done as a result.

Prediction: Glasgow Warriors by 10.

Suggested Bet: Glasgow Warriors -8 at 1.90.

Leinster v La Rochelle

Saturday, 10 January – 19:30

One of the hottest rivalries in club rugby will be reignited at the Aviva Stadium.

First coming up against each other in 2021, everyone knew the two would play out some classics. The French side won that one 32-23 — a feat they repeated the year after too.

While the 2021 win came in the semi-final, 2022’s was on the biggest stage: the final. A scrambled, closing-stages Arthur Retiere score gave La Rochelle their maiden Champions Cup title.

This set the tone for the following year’s final. Leinster led 23-7 in Dublin, but tries from Ulupano Seuteni and Georges-Henri Colombe, together with Antoine Hastoy’s nerves of steel from the tee, saw La Rochelle seal one of the greatest comebacks in any Champions Cup final (26-27).

The pair would meet again the following season, this time in the pool stage — one the Irish giants ended up taking 16-9 for their first win of the rivalry. Leinster dominated the following year’s tie as well (40-13) thanks to some expert James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park scores, before repeating the result last season.

Meeting in Round 3, hosts La Rochelle were trailing 16-9 before a Dillyn Leyds try set up a tense end. A missed penalty and a drop goal from Antoine Hastoy in the final stages failed to get the French side back into it as Leinster won the sixth meeting between the sides 16-14.

Four-time European champions Leinster are currently on a better roll as well, and with home ground advantage thrown in, they should get the win.

Prediction: Leinster by 9.

Suggested Bet: La Rochelle +17 at 1.90.

Sale Sharks v Sharks

Saturday, 10 January – 19:30

We have ourselves a fascinating first-ever showdown between the Sharks of Durban and their counterparts from Sale.

Both teams are third from bottom in their domestic leagues and 1-1 in this season’s Champions Cup. The Durbanites changed coaches following their 56-19 opening round thumping by Toulouse, with JP Pietersen taking over from John Plumtree in a switch that had immediate success.

The men in Black and White beat Harlequins 28-23, and backed it up with a 21-12 URC win over the Bulls to build much-needed momentum. However, after gifting the Lions a 15-point head start and failing to convert several try-scoring opportunities, they lost 23-22 at the death last weekend, ending the Pietersen honeymoon period.

With Toulouse, Harlequins and Sale (second, third and fourth respectively) all on six points, one ahead of the fifth-placed Sharks, Pool 1 is tightly contested. The English outfit rebounded with a 35-14 away win over Clermont after dropping their opener 26-21 to Glasgow at home and are vulnerable, having lost three of their last five in their backyard.

Marco Massotti, owner of the Durban franchise, has long voiced his displeasure that Sale also call themselves the Sharks, and couldn’t resist making a ‘Sale Tuna’ this week, which wasn’t the smartest move as it will only serve as added motivation for the hosts.

The boss leading from the front 🫡 pic.twitter.com/OTIf8y5das

— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) January 6, 2026

Perhaps it’s a case of “Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie”. As major underdogs, the local Sharks would be worth backing if they field a fairly strong side.

Prediction: Sharks by 1.

Suggested Bet: Sharks by 9.00.

Scarlets v Pau

Saturday, 10 January – 22:00

Is this trip to Wales worth Pau’s while? That’s the question.

Even though they’re on zero points, the fourth-placed Scarlets and fifth-placed Bulls only have one each, so the final spot in Pool 4’s top four is still up for grabs. And, with a home game against the Bulls next weekend, qualifying for the playoffs is very much within Pau’s reach.

What complicates things is that they’re currently second in the TOP 14 standings, a solitary point behind Toulouse. Do they then chase a playoff spot in this tournament, or do they prioritise their domestic competition? Even though this is a game Pau probably want to lose, the URC bottom-dwelling Scarlets are in such bad shape that Pau could pick up the win regardless of the team they put out. It’s worth backing them as underdogs.

Prediction: Pau by 2.

Suggested Bet: Pau at 3.75.

Leicester Tigers v Bayonne

Saturday, 10 January – 22:00

As the two winless teams in Pool 3, this is a must-win game for both sides to have any hope of sneaking into the playoffs.

Both have yet to open their account, with Leicester in fifth place (and thus in a position to drop to the EPCR Challenge Cup knockouts) due to their superior points’ difference.

Given their situation, I doubt Bayonne will see this trip as anything other than an inconvenience. Therefore, expect the Tigers to roar.

Prediction: Leicester Tigers by 20.

Suggested Bet: Bayonne +31 at 1.90.

Harlequins v Stormers

Sunday, 11 January – 15:00

Despite lacking cohesion and discipline, the Stormers found a way to win last weekend’s bruising north-south derby.

Winning becomes a habit, and the Capetonians backed the character and belief they’ve developed since the start of the season as they turned down two kickable penalties with the sides level at 8-8 and it paid off, with Ntuthuko Mchunu scoring the decisive try in the 79th minute to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions.

Defensively, John Dobson’s men were once again outstanding, but they’ll look to cut out the errors with ball in hand and improve their discipline in London. With wins over Bayonne (26-17) and La Rochelle (42-21), the Stormers top Pool 3 on nine points and a better points’ difference than Leinster.

Thus, they need to win just one of their two remaining pool games to progress to the playoffs. Given the run the URC log leaders are on, they won’t want to surrender their 0, so I expect “Dobbo” to field a strong side. Third in the pool after splitting their first two games against Leinster (a 45-28 loss) and Bayonne (a 68-14 win), Harlequins can never be counted out, especially with Storm Goretti, which will be a big factor not only for the Capetonians, but the Sharks as well.

However, ‘Quins are coming off three heavy domestic defeats, and given the Stormers’ class and momentum, the visitors should leave victorious.

Prediction: Stormers by 3.

Suggested Bet: Stormers at 2.00.

Toulon v Munster

Sunday, 11 January – 15:00

Toulon are unbeaten at Stade Mayol since last season’s quarter-final against Toulouse, and their 45-34 win over Bath in the previous round will only add to that confidence.

But Munster won’t be intimidated. Star flyhalf Jack Crowley is back fit and the likes of Tadhg Beirne and new-signing Michael Alaalatoa bolster an impressive squad.

Both teams are fresh, so this should be a cracker, with Toulon coming out on top after being pushed hard by their Irish visitors.

Prediction: Toulon by 12.

Suggested Bet: Toulon -11 at 1.90.

Bordeaux-Begles v Northampton Saints

Sunday, 11 January – 17:15

Sunday also sees a blockbuster rematch between champions Bordeaux-Begles and the Northampton Saints.

It was the French side who came out on top in Cardiff in last season’s final, and they’ll be hoping to build on what’s been a perfect start to this year’s competition.

The Saints are right on their tails, though, with two wins too, and two statement victories over Bath and Harlequins in their latest domestic ventures mean they’re flying into this seismic showdown.

That said, Bordeaux are extremely tough to beat at home. Having won 11 of their last 12 games in their backyard, I have to back Bordeaux.

Prediction: Bordeaux-Begles by 5.

Suggested Bet: Northampton Saints +12 at 1.90.

Saracens v Toulouse

Sunday, 11 January – 19:30

London’s calling and Toulouse are seething and out to set the record straight against a buoyant Saracens side.

The three-time winners have been largely solid at home this season and will take confidence from Toulouse’s potential to tumble when put under the cosh.

Ugo Mola’s men squandered a 0-21 lead at Glasgow in the previous round, so the motivation to right those wrongs is there for the six-time champions.

The French giants are a nightmare to face under normal circumstances, and doubly so with this added driving force. Thus, I can’t see Saracens holding them off.

Prediction: Toulouse by 7.

Suggested Bet: Saracens +11 at 1.90.