European Challenge Cup final predictions: Powerful Tigers can claim silverware

Free rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for the European Challenge Cup final between Leicester v Montpellier on Friday.

Leicester v Montpellier

BT Sport 1, 8pm Friday

Best bets

Leicester -1
3pts Evs BoyleSports, Hills

Ellis Genge to score a try
1pt 6-1 Paddy Power

Match preview

It's 20 years almost to the day since Leicester won their first Heineken Cup title, sealing their status as a European rugby superpower.

And power could be the key word on Friday as the Tigers find themselves for the first time in the final of the continent's secondary competition, the Challenge Cup, against French side Montpellier.

Any clash between English and French clubs is bound to be a physical contest, and Top 14 sides often have the edge with their reliance on powerful ball-carriers to take the battle to the opposition.

But Leicester are one Premiership outfit who boast exactly that kind of weapon in their own attacking ranks and they look perfectly placed to dominate the physical battle.

Montpellier will know all about Tigers winger Nemani Nadolo - the 6ft 5ins 21-stone Fijian flyer was a Montpellier player from 2016 to 2020. But Leicester also have three wrecking-ball runners in their pack in the shape of England prop Ellis Genge and South African back-rowers Hanro Liebeberg and Jasper Wiese, all of whom are in the starting line-up.

Like Leicester, Montpellier, winners of this tournament in 2016, have struggled in their domestic league this season but boast a squad packed with star names.

Leicester coach Steve Borthwick went so far as to claim that his side are "massive underdogs" against the French outfit. But bookmakers don't agree, making the Tigers narrow favourites in a desperately tight betting heat.

After a fairly unremarkable campaign, Montpellier only really caught the eye when overcoming Bath in a semi-final downpour, and the forecast is for similarly wet conditions at Twickenham.

The Tigers, by contrast, have put together a run of solid results, culminating with a hugely impressive 33-24 success over Ulster in the semis, and they have averaged more than 37 points scored per match.

While Montpellier rested most of their first team in the Top 14 last week, Leicester went strong and put down a marker for this final with a 35-29 success over highflying Harlequins.

One key change to the team from that game is that Richard Wigglesworth starts at scrum-half with Ben Youngs moved to the bench.

Wigglesworth, twice a Champions Cup winner with Saracens, may be preferred because of his territorial kicking game as the Tigers look to his boot and their pack to keep their opponents at arm's length. A cagey game is expected but the chance is there for those big, bulldozing forwards to make an impact from close quarters.

At 6-1 Genge must be worth a tryscorer bet after his brace against Quins on Saturday. His sheer hunger and determination were evident in that performance and if it does become a forwards' game in difficult conditions, expect the England man to be at the heart of things again.

Montpellier took on two other former European champions in their pool-stage matches and were well beaten by Leinster and Wasps, and although they were successful at Bath, they have won just three of 11 away matches in the Top 14.

It could be tight and low-scoring if the weather has a say but Leicester have enough in their locker to edge it.

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