European Champions Cup final predictions: Toulouse to edge hard-fought contest

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's European Champions Cup final.

La Rochelle v Toulouse

Where to watch

Channel 4 & BT Sport 2, 4.45pm Saturday

Best bet

Toulouse to win by one to 12 points
2pts 8-5 Betfair

Match preview

French teams have been dominant in the European Champions Cup this season, occupying five of the eight quarter-final berths and providing both finalists.

But while French rugby often evokes memories of flamboyance and flair, it's been missing when Top 14 teams meet in this tournament and Saturday's final could be no different.

If there is some hope it is that La Rochelle are appearing in their first final and have caught the eye with some strong attacking performances at times.

But they are up against Toulouse, four-time winners and lining up in their seventh final, who are the kind of team to dictate terms and look sure to keep a tight lid on things.

There were two all-French quarter-finals, in which Bordeaux overcame Racing and Toulouse won at Clermont, neither of which produced a try, while Toulouse did cross twice in the semi-final success over Bordeaux.

There have also been five-all French finals - the first three of which were won by Toulouse, who beat Perpignan by five points and Biarritz by two either side of a tryless 12-12 draw with Stade Francais which they edged in extra time.

Toulon were the last French winners and they overcame Clermont in their first and third successes, by one point and six points.

It seems to be a trait that knockout rugby brings out the hard-fought, physical and cagey side of French rugby, and given these two sides are first and second in the Top 14 there's unlikely to be much quarter given either way.

The teams last met in February when Toulouse pulled off a 14-11 away win. French website rugbyrama.fr summed up their commentary with the words "Pas un gros score, mais un sacré combat" - not a big score but one hell of a battle - and a repeat performance looks to be on the cards at a rainy Twickenham.

La Rochelle are blessed with great forward power and the best defence in the Top 14, giving up just 17 points per game, but Toulouse look to have the better all-round game and boast by far the greater big-match experience.

The points line is set low at 37.5 which doesn't look to offer a great deal of value, but it's hard to see either team running away with it. Toulouse look to have the edge and can claim a fifth European crown with a narrow win.

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