The European Rugby Champions Cup will enter its second round on Friday the 19th of October.
The Champions Cup opened up with a bang last week as rugby fans were treated to some scintillating games as well as a few matches that resembled Tests. A few teams made mammoth statements in Round 1 with reigning champions Leinster hammering Wasps in the tournament’s opener and Saracens and Racing Metro claiming vital away wins.
There was also a massive shock in the opening round as a struggling Newcastle Falcons side managed to beat Toulon out in France.
Here’s hoping that Round 2 is as lively as its predecessor.
Leicester Tigers v Scarlets
Friday 19 October
Welford Road
20:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Leicester 4/5
Draw 25/1
Scarlets 11/8
*Forecast Odds
The opening fixture of Round 2 will see two sides who lost their first games of the tournament do battle at Welford Road.
The hosts, Leicester, head into this one off the back of a 24-10 defeat away to Irish Province, Ulster. The English outfit put in a decent shift and were unlucky not to be rewarded with a losing bonus point for their endeavors.
The Scarlets also head into this clash off the back of an impressive performance with the Welsh outfit going down 13-14 to Racing Metro.
Verdict: Leicester 4/5
I’m going with the home team here. They’ve played a very expansive brand of rugby this term which could reap dividends against a Scarlets side who are by no means prolific on attack.
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Castres v Exeter Chiefs
Saturday 20 October
Stade Pierre Fabre
14:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Castres 8/5
Draw 20/1
Exeter 8/11
*Forecast Odds
Castres will be looking to bounce back from their home defeat to Gloucester when they take on the Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
The hosts will be bitterly disappointed having lost 14-19 to Gloucester on home soil. The result has hindered their chances of advancing to the next round as they will need to pick up at least one away win from their three away fixtures.
Exeter will also be seething after they drew 10-10 with Munster at Sandy Park last weekend. The Chiefs were up 10-3 at half-time but failed to score a point during the second stanza. They will need to be more clinical on attack out in France if they are to bag what will be a vital win.
Verdict: Exeter 8/11
I’m expecting a big response from the men from Devonshire this Saturday. I expect their forwards to dominate proceedings and drive and scrum their side to an away win.
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Munster v Gloucester
Saturday 20 October
Thomond Park
14:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Munster 1/6
Draw 50/1
Gloucester 11/2
*Forecast Odds
Gloucester will be looking to cause a major upset when they travel to Ireland to take on PRO14 side Munster
The visitors head into this one off of a brilliant 14-19 away win over Castres which has put them right in the hunt for a place in the next round of the tournament. If they can even pick up a losing bonus point here, it would be a highly successful start to the campaign for Johan Ackermann’s charges.
Munster also managed to bag some points last week as they drew 10-10 away from home with Exeter. While the Irish Province would have loved a win, it’s no mean feat walking away from Sandy Park with a draw.
Verdict: Munster 1/6
While Gloucester do head into this one with an away win under their belts I simply cannot see them repeating the dose here. My money is on Munster taking this one by six points or more.
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Wasps v Bath Rugby
Saturday 20 October
Ricoh Arena
16:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Wasps 1/3
Draw 28/1
Bath 7/5
*Forecast Odds
Wasps will be looking to bounce back from arguably their worst defeat during coach Dai Young’s reign when they square off in an English Derby against Bath.
The men from Coventry return home off the back of a 52-3 pasting at the hands of reigning champions Leinster. Wasps looked devoid of ideas on attack and their defence was nothing short of woeful.
Bath also head into Saturday’s clash off the back of a disappointing defeat as they went down 20-22 to Toulouse on home soil. The game will forever be remembered for fullback Freddie Burns’ late moment of madness which saw the fullback have the ball knocked out of his hands by Maxine Medard after he had already crossed the try line and was prematurely celebrating.
Verdict: Wasps 1/3
They will have a few of their injured players back this week which should see them over the line against their domestic foes.
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Edinburgh v Toulon
Saturday 20 October
BT Murrayfield
16:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Edinburgh 4/7
Draw 28/1
Toulon 8/5
*Forecast Odds
A wounded Toloun side will be looking to bounce back out in Scotland this Saturday when they take on plucky Edinburgh.
The visitors had an absolute shocker of an opening round as they went down 25-26 to struggling English outfit, the Newcastle Falcons. The result was made all the more damning as it wasn’t even a full-strength Newcastle side that beat the French giants.
Edinburgh had a slightly better time of it last week as they went down by just six points away to French giants Montpellier.
Verdict: Edinburgh 4/7
Toulon are in horrid form and I can’t see them beating this well-drilled Edinburgh side at Murrayfield.
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Racing Metro 92 v Ulster
Saturday 20 October
Paris La Defense Arena
18:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Racing 2/13
Draw 40/1
Ulster 15/2
*Forecast Odds
Racing Metro and Ulster will lock horns in Saturday’s penultimate Champions Cup fixture. the hosts got their campaign off to a bright start with a hard-fought 13-14 away win over the Scarlets. While it wasn’t a vintage performance from the Parisians – the only won the game by virtue of a late penalty try – they will still be mightily pleased with bagging an away win.
Ulster also got their campaign off to a positive start as the Irish Province beat the Leicester Tigers 23-10 out in Belfast.
Verdict: Racing 2/13
The Top 14 outfit will be far too strong for a competent yet limited Ulster side. My money is on the hosts winning this one by eight points or more.
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Saracens v Lyon
Saturday 20 October
Allianz Park
18:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Saracens 1/16
Draw 55/1
Lyon 18/1
*Forecast Odds
Saturday’s action will come to a close out in North London where Saracens will take on Lyon in an Anglo-French tie. Neither side is scared to run the ball from deep inside their own half, so this game could well be a great spectacle.
The hosts got their campaign off to a great start as they beat the always tricky Glasgow Warriors 3-13at the Scotstoun. Lyon endured a more difficult opening week as they went down 21-30 to the Cardiff Blues
Verdict: Saracens 1/16
Lyon are a highly entertaining side but they are not in the same school let alone class as their opponents. My money is on Saracens taking this one by 16 points or more.
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Newcastle Falcons v Montpellier
Sunday 21 October
Kingston Park
14:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Newcastle 17/12
Draw 28/1
Montpellier 7/10
*Forecast Odds
Newcastle will be looking to bag yet another upset win over French opposition when they welcome Montpellier to Kingston Park in Sunday’s opening fixture.
As touched on earlier in the piece, the hosts pulled off the shock of the opening round as they beat Toloun 25-26 out in France. The result would have been a massive confidence boost for the side from North England who have been struggling domestically this term.
Montpellier also managed to bag an opening day win as they saw off a spirited Edinburgh 21-15. They will need to be wary this week as despite coming into this one as heavy favourites, Newcastle are more than capable of pulling off an upset.
Verdict: Montpellier 7/10
The visitors have some of their stars back and they should be too strong for an injury-ravaged Newcastle outfit.
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Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors
Sunday 21 October
Cardiff Arms Park
16:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Cardiff 8/11
Draw 22/1
Glasgow 17/11
*Forecast Odds
Next up it’s an all PRO14 affair between Welsh outfit the Cardiff Blues and Scottish side the Glasgow Warriors. These two teams experienced contrasting fortunes last week as Cardiff bagged a 21-30 win over Lyon and Glasgow went down 3-13 to Saracens.
Verdict: Glasgow 17/11
While Cardiff are in great form I can’t see them getting a win over this talented Glasgow side. The away win represents great value here.
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Toulouse v Leinster
Sunday 21 October
Stade Ernest Wallon
16:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Toulouse 5/2
Draw 28/1
Leinster 4/9
*Forecast Odds
The Round 2 action will come to a close out in Toulouse this week where the home side will square off against reigning champions Leinster.
Both teams head into Sunday’s fixture off the back of opening round wins but Leinster were far more impressive during their 52-3 dismantling of Wasps than Toulouse were during their 20-22 snatch and grab victory over Bath. In fact, if Freddie Burns hadn’t turned out for Bath then Toulouse would more than likely be headed into this one off the back of a defeat.
Verdict: Leinster 4/9
It would take a very brave man to bet against this Leinster side. While they’re unlikely to win by as big a margin as they did last week I can still see the visitors taking this one by nine points or more.
