Champions Cup rugby: Sunday match previews, odds and tips

Free rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for Sunday's Champions Cup games.

Saracens v Racing 92

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 1pm Sunday

Best bet

Saracens to win by one to ten points
1pt 12-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

It has been another crazy week for Saracens off the field, with the real threat of automatic relegation hanging over Allianz Park.

On the field, they still have a shot at making the Champions Cup quarter finals but have to deal with the threat of the French giants Racing 92.

A win should be enough for Saracens to progress into the quarter-finals depending on results elsewhere, while Racing still require points to ensure home advantage in the knockout stage.

This repeat of the 2016 final is expected to be a tight affair but Saracens' strong home European record likely to prove decisive.

Director of rugby Mark McCall has named his strongest team - as many as six of his starters are likely to be named in Eddie Jones's England squad named on Monday - despite having said at the start of the campaign that European ambitions would be secondary to staying in the Premiership this season.

If reports on Friday of a new points deduction and certain relegation are true, it could well be that priorities have changed again and all focus is now on retaining their European crown, and a fully fired-up Sarries side is a dangerous prospect.

Munster v Ospreys

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 1pm Sunday

Best bet

Mike Haley to score a try
1pt 11-8 Coral, Ladbrokes

Match preview

Munster need a bonus-point win at home to the Ospreys and a lot to go right elsewhere to avoid a first pool stage exit since 2016. The Irish giants should be too strong for the troubled Welsh side but will be left to rue the failure of securing bonus points in defeats at Saracens and Racing 92.

Ospreys' miserable season continued at home to Saracens last weekend, where despite a man advantage for 75 minutes they were beaten more comfortably than a seven-point margin suggests.

Their focus is on lifting their Pro14 position to ensure they are back in this competition next season. It should be a comfortable Sunday lunchtime's work for Munster.

Full-back Mike Haley is yet to score a try in this European campaign but has bagged two in the Pro14 and covers plenty of ground. If this turns into an open contest as expected he looks decent value to make his mark.

Toulouse v Gloucester

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 3.15pm Sunday

Best bet

Gloucester +16
1pt 10-11 general

Match preview

The permutations are simple for Gloucester. Win and they qualify for the knockout stage for the first time since 2008. To achieve that goal, they must do what no side has done since January 2016 and beat Toulouse at home in the Champions Cup.

Toulouse, who made the semi finals last season, have won all five matches and will be looking to wrap up a home quarter-final. Gloucester have plenty of firepower but will be without the services of fly-half Danny Cipriani who limped off in last weekend's home win over Montpellier.

The French side were given a scare in the first meeting at Kingsholm in November. Gloucester led 20-9 at half time but fell to a 20-25 defeat.

The Cherry & Whites look are unlikely to get the result they need to extend their European season but they are used to battling and can stay within a hefty handicap against the already-qualified Toulousains.

Montpellier v Connacht

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 3.15pm Sunday

Match preview

Both Montpellier and Connacht will be frustrated to be out of the running in the Champions Cup.

The euphoria of Connacht's comeback victory over Gloucester just before Christmas faded away with a home defeat to Toulouse last weekend.

This match was Connacht's third defeat of the campaign and the third occasion where they have a failed to collect a losing bonus point. Montpellier's campaign has never recovered from an opening weekend defeat in Galway.

The Top 14 side's solitary victory in this year's campaign came at home to Gloucester when the English side rested a number of key players.

Their focus is now on catching runaway league leaders Bordeaux and Lyon, but they can give their supporters something to cheer in their final European game and extend Connacht's poor European away record.

They have not won a Champions Cup match in France since December 2013.

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