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Rugby Union tips

Sunday's European Champions Cup predictions & rugby betting tips: La Rochelle ready to battle against familiar foes

Free rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for Sunday's European Champions Cup matches

Ryan Baird scores for Leinster in last season's Champions Cup quarter-final victory over La Rochelle in Dublin
Ryan Baird scores for Leinster in last season's Champions Cup quarter-final victory over La Rochelle in DublinCredit: Ramsey Cardy

Where to watch 

Matches are live on Premier Sports 

Best bets

Over 54.5 points in Toulon vs Harlequins
Premier Sports 2, 1pm
1pt 10-11 Hills, Paddy Power

La Rochelle +8
Premier Sports1, 3.15pm
1pt 10-11 BoyleSports

Toulon vs Harlequins
Premier Sports 2, 1pm Sunday

Three-time European champions Toulon are riding high in the Top 14 have made a winning start to their European campaign as they seek to hit the heights of old.

The French side are ten-point favourites at home to Harlequins but one market worth exploring is the total points line.

Inconsistent Quins have been unable to put together a run of strong results, but they are a team who like to attack and this could be another open game.

Toulon have scored an average of 37 point in their home games this season, while Quins have scored nine tries in their last two matches.

La Rochelle vs Leinster
Premier Sports 1, 3.15pm Sunday

The game of the round comes in pool two as La Rochelle and Leinster meet for the sixth time in five seasons.

The French side won the first three meetings - a semi-final and two finals - to firmly establish themselves as Leinster's bogey team.

Two subsequent head-to-heads have gone the way of Leinster, the most recent of which was a 40-13 victory in last year's quarter-final.

That emphatic scoreline contrasts with the previous four meetings, which were all decided by a single-figure margin.

Both sides are in good shape to progress from their pool, but the battle for a top-two spot and home tie in the round of 16 should ensure this is closely fought.

Buoyed by a win over Toulouse last week, La Rochelle can make the best of a handicap start at home.

Bristol vs Benetton
Premier Sports 2, 3.15pm Sunday

Benetton pulled off a surprise win over Bath in round two but neither of these teams look set to make much of an impact in their pool.

Winless Bristol give a debut to Leinster fly-half Harry Byrne, signed on short-term loan as injury cover for AJ MacGinty, and they are 13-point favourites against a Benetton side missing injured winger Louis Lynagh as well as former All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa.

Bath vs Clermont
Premier Sports 2, 5.30pm Sunday

Premiership leaders Bath have two losing bonus points to show from their two opening games in Europe and with a trip to face Leinster in Dublin to come in the final round, they really have to win to have a chance of progressing.

Clermont are a strong team who travel poorly and their 20-19 success at bottom side Vannes in the Top 14 last week was only their second away win in nine matches this season.

Bath have been made 13-point favourites and although that handicap looks a little high, they have named a strong team and are taking on untrustworthy opponents so it's hard to find an edge.


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