European Champions Cup predictions and rugby union tips

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Friday's European Champions Cup match between Gloucester and La Rochelle.

A much-disrupted European rugby campaign suffered yet another setback on Friday as the opening Champions Cup last-16 tie between tournament favourites Leinster and Toulon was called off.

After less than half of the pool-stage matches could be played, organisers came up with a draw for the first two stages of knockout action. But a positive Covid test among the Toulon camp, who were already in Dublin, meant the match had to be cancelled, and with the quarter-finals scheduled for next weekend it looks unlikely the match can be re-arranged.

Leinster were narrow 7-2 favourites for the trophy when the last-16 and quarter-final draws were announced. In the chasing pack are defending champions Exeter, while there's a trio of French big guns in the opposite side of the draw - four-time winners Toulouse plus Clermont and Racing 92, who have reached six of the last eight finals between them.

Gloucester v La Rochelle

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Friday

Best bet

La Rochelle -5
1pt 10-11 general

Match preview

While neither of these teams have probably set their sights very high in Europe this year, this clash looks something of a free hit and it could turn into an open contest.

La Rochelle have never been European heavyweights and are second in the Top 14, so they might be excused for showing little interest in this tournament.

But they have named a strong side and are 1-2 shots to beat Gloucester, and the prospect of a home quarter-final against Sale or Scarlets might just tempt them to have a proper crack at a semi-final place.

Gloucester have turned something of a corner with three wins in five following a poor first half of the season, and they too have gone for a strong line-up, with international flyers Jonny May and Louis Rees-Zammit on the wings.

But La Rochelle have the meanest defence in the Top 14, giving up an average of 16 points per game, and this strong, physical French outfit, steered by Kiwi half-back pairing Ihaia West and Tawera Kerr Barlow, could prove too strong.

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