The pick of the opening round sees a repeat of last season's final with La Rochelle and Toulouse squaring off. This is the game we'll take an indepth look at. Our rugby writer also gives his tips for the remaining six fixtures.
La Rochelle v Toulouse
Sunday 5 September
Stade Marcel Deflandre
21:05
To Win Match
La Rochelle 62/100
Draw 21/1
Toulouse 14/10
La Rochelle will be looking to avenge their 2020/21 finals defeat to Toulouse when the two sides square off in the final game of Round 1 on Sunday evening.
Toulouse managed to claim the spoils when these two sides met in the Top 14 final with as they won a low scoring affair 18-8. The visitors for this weekend are missing a number of the men who took to the field in the final with Cheslin Kolbe away with the ‘Springboks and set to move to Toulon, while ex-All Black Jerome Kaino has retired from the game.
La Rochelle have been less hard-hit during the transfer window and have only lost Geoffery Dorymarou from the team that took to the field in the Top 14 final.
Both teams have brought in a minimal number of star players with Toulouse recruiting veteran Tim Nanai Williams and bringing in Jonathan Danty.
Besides the Top 14 final, the two sides met on three other occasions last season with Toulouse winning the Champions Cup fixture 17-22 and their home Top 14 fixture 39-23. La Rochelle’s solitary victory was their home Top 14 game which they won 11-14.
Verdict: La Rochelle 62/100
La Rochelle look by far and away the better team on paper and I can’t see them having any problems getting one over a much-changed Toulouse outfit.
Other Tips
Bordeaux Win v Biarritz at 24/10
Castres Win v Pau at 2/9
Perpignan Win v Brive at 26/10
Racing Win v Stade Francais at 76/100
Toulon Win v Montpellier (betting tba)
Lyon Win v Clermont at 68/100
