Leinster v Toulouse predictions and rugby union tips: Leinster to send a message

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Leinster v Toulouse in the European Champions Cup semi-finals at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 3pm Saturday

Best bet

Leinster to win by 11 to 20 points
1pt 11-4 Betfair, Power

Match preview

Lady Luck has smiled on Toulouse’s defence of the European Champions Cup but they will need more than good fortune if they are to eliminate tournament favourites Leinster in Saturday's semi-final.

It's been a tough road to the semi-finals for the French champions, squeezing past Ulster by one point in the last 16 before claiming the scalp of Munster via the Champions Cup’s first place-kicking contest in 13 years.

On both occasions, Toulouse have had to dig deep to cling on to their European crown and after playing 100 bruising minutes against Munster last weekend at the Aviva Stadium, it's only right to question how much they have left in the tank for the return trip to Dublin.

Leinster, in contrast, had the luxury of resting their star names ahead of what was a straightforward quarter-final win at Leicester and their freshness should serve them well in the closing stages of the season.

Leinster have named an unchanged side from their win at Welford Road for a contest that is as close to an international Test match as you can get in club rugby. Leinster’s starting line-up contains 13 players who were part of Ireland's Six Nations squad, while Toulouse carry seven members of France’s victorious party.

Despite the presence of so many high-quality internationals, bookmakers expect Leinster to see off Toulouse with something to spare in the fourth European semi-final between the pair.

The layers make the French visitors ten-point underdogs but only one of Toulouse’s last 13 defeats has been by a double-digit margin and it’s tough to imagine a side containing Antoine Dupont, among others, being beaten so convincingly.

However, this is a Leinster side that means business and they should have the energy levels and strength-in-depth to turn the screw in the latter stages en route to another European final.

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