Clermont v Leicester predictions & rugby union tips: No end to Tigers' troubles

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Friday's Champions Cup match between Clermont Auvergne and Leicester Tigers.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Friday

Best bet

Clermont -5
1pt 10-11 Hills

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Match preview

The post-Steve Borthwick era hasn’t gone to plan for Leicester so far and an injury-hit Tigers team are unlikely to find much solace when they visit Clermont.

Borthwick’s last game in charge before he became England head coach was a hard-fought 23-16 win over Clermont and having seen off Ospreys in their Champions Cup opener, the English champions are on the verge of securing a spot in the last 16.

However, while Leicester have won under interim head coach Richard Wigglesworth, who came on as a replacement the last time the Tigers faced Clermont, their two most recent performances have set alarm bells ringing.

Newcastle and Sale ran riot against Leicester, scoring 85 points combined, indicating it’s not just Borthwick the Tigers are missing but also defence coach Kevin Sinfield, who followed Borthwick to Twickenham.

Injuries and departures haven’t helped novice Wigglesworth’s cause, although he does have the luxury of pairing together experienced duo Handre Pollard and Ben Youngs at half-back on Friday.

It’s up front where the problems lie. Leicester lack big ball-carriers capable of punching holes in the opposition line with the absence of No.8 Jasper Wiese, among others, being keenly felt.

It leaves Leicester at a sizeable disadvantage for the hop across the Channel to face a Clermont side desperate to chalk up their second win of their Champions Cup campaign.

The current format of the competition means two wins are likely to be enough to see teams through to the next round and Clermont are keen to complete the job ahead of a pool stage finale with the Stormers in South Africa.

Clermont’s campaign has been dogged by an inability to put together a full 80-minute performance, as seen when they failed to build on a decent start in the reverse fixture at Welford Road.

But while this isn’t a vintage Clermont side and the atmospheric Stade Marcel-Michelin may not be the European fortress of old - Leicester and Ulster both won there last season - the greater need of the home side for a win should see them prevail.

Clermont have won 15 of their last 20 home games by an average margin of 13 points and, given the strength of a backline they should cover a modest five-point handicap against the Tigers.

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