The European Rugby Champions Cup is back this weekend, with the matches of the round featuring the Hollywoodbets Sharks and defending champions Toulouse battling it out at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Saturday 11 January
Stormers 3/10 | Draw 22/1 | Sale Sharks 11/1
The Stormers may just have turned a corner following successive home wins over the Lions and Sharks in the URC. The injury-ravaged side has endured a season to forget so far and currently occupies bottom spot in Pool 4 with no log-points to speak of after opening Champions Cup defeats to Toulon and Harlequins. While their European title hopes are probably already over, the return of Evan Roos, Ben Loader and Sti Sithole will boost them in their bid to make it three wins on the bounce in all comps and continue their improvement.
In rounds one and two, Sale were beaten at Glasgow before downing Racing 92 to head into this weekend placed fourth in the pool. They’ll bring their characteristic power game as they try to cause the Stormers more hurt in the Mother City, but they may not have enough in the tank to go the distance against the increasingly confident Cape side.
Verdict: Stormers on the board
The hosts to fend off Sale’s physical might and get the job done.
Hollywoodbets Sharks 37/10 | Draw 25/1 | Toulouse 21/100
Saturday’s clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park will be a major litmus test for John Plumtree’s Sharks, who have made no secret of their ambitions in Europe. Toulouse are the best club team on the planet and beating them will be no fluke.
Even in humid Durban, it will take a world class performance to knock over Ugo Mola’s European and French champions, something we haven’t yet seen from this current incarnation of the Sharks despite their heavy reliance on experienced Springbok World Cup winners.
With the likes of Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi set to return to the starting XV, it’s not like the Durbanites lack firepower. If they can mix the right amount of Bok muscle and Sharks flair, they can cause damage. Unfortunately though the team may just be a season to two away from realising their full potential, with a full-strength Les Rouge et Noir outfit just too far ahead in their development.
Without defensive mastermind Lukhanyo Am against a Toulouse backline arsenal consisting of players like Romain Ntamack, Santi Chocobares, Thomas Ramos and that one Dupont fella, the Sharks should fall short.
Verdict: Toulouse on the board
It should be close for the majority of the contest but the greatest club side in the world should come out victors by the final whistle.
Castres 29/100 | Draw 25/1 | Bulls 11/44
Jake White will hope his decision to arrive on Monday instead of the usual Wednesday will boost his Bulls outfit in their quest to knock over Castres in the south of France this weekend. Like the Stormers, the two-time URC runners-up are yet to pick up their first points of the competition with things getting no easier on Saturday against the hosts, who remain very much in contention.
While Castres, unlike the rest of the French clubs, don’t traditionally target the Champions Cup each season, they will still be a major threat to the Bulls; particularly if White has opted to field a second-string side as he did in the quarterfinals last season. Honestly, with two opening defeats and their championship chances hanging by a thread, who could blame him?
Verdict: Castres on the minus
Depending on the Bulls team named, Castres should ease to victory
CHAMPIONS! Massive game on Saturday! Please get the wording right! 😭❤️🇿🇦🙏🏼 #InvestecChampionsCup #SHAvTOU pic.twitter.com/RaXDcflTKL
— Rory Petzer (@RoryPetzer) January 8, 2025
Sunday 12 January
La Rochelle 2/1 | Draw 20/1 | Leinster 42/100
Two-time champs La Rochelle face four-time holders Leinster in a repeat of the 2022 and 2023 Grand Finals on Sunday. In spite of Ronan O’Gara’s side’s average Top 14 performances this season, there’s still a good argument to be made that these two clubs are among the top three in the world and a win for either of them here would be a significant psychological boost so early in the European calendar.
Leinster are still unbeaten in all competitions this term and are going about their business as they normally do during this period of the season. Although La Rochelle will have their famous home support behind them, they haven’t quite clicked yet, sitting sixth domestically, and could find themselves outmatched in what should be an absolute blockbuster.
Verdict: Leinster on the board
Leo Cullen’s men to earn what would be a significant victory on Sunday.
Quick-fire picks:
• Glasgow Warriors v Racing 92 = Glasgow on the minus
• Exeter Chiefs v Bordeaux-Begles = Bordeaux on the board
• Munster v Saracens = Munster on the board
• Stade Francais v Northampton Saints = Stade on the board
• Leicester Tigers v Ulster = Tigers on the minus
• Toulon v Harlequins = Toulon on the minus
• Bristol Bears v Benetton = Bristol on the minus
• Bath v Clermont Auvergne = Bath on the minus
