European Champions Cup: predictions, free rugby betting tips, where to watch

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Friday's European Champions Cup games.

Scarlets v Toulon

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 5.30pm Friday

Best bet

Toulon to win by one to 12 points
1pt 21-10 Betfair

Match preview

These teams met three times in the Challenge Cup last season, with Toulon winning all three by margins of one, five and 11 points, and another narrow win for the French side looks the best bet.

Both teams kicked off their European campaigns with wins in round one, when Scarlets grabbed the headlines for claiming an upset over rivals Bath.

Toulon were more workmanlike as they carved out a 26-0 lead over Sale, who had been rocked by the departure of head coach Steve Diamond in the build-up, but eased up to ship late tries in a 26-14 victory.

However, the visitors should see it through against a Scarlets side hit by injury and with an inexperienced bench.

Wales forwards Samson Lee and Jake Ball are missing from the hosts' pack after picking up head injuries last week while a single positive Covid test in the squad has led to a few close contacts being forced to withdraw.

Jonathan Davies and Johnny McNicholl return to the backline but there are ten changes in all from the team that beat Bath with three players poised to make their debuts from the bench.

Wasps v Montpellier

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Friday

Best bet

Wasps -8
2pts 10-11 general

Match preview

Montpellier have been a bit of a soft touch on their travels in Europe and Wasps appear to believe that won't change as they have chosen to rest their internationals for this match.

Dan Robson, Will Rowlands, Jack Willis and Joe Launchbury are all given the night off but there is still plenty of quality in the team to face a Montpellier outfit renowned for their physicality.

The visitors' line-up is much changed from the team well beaten at home by Leinster last week but there's still considerable power in a pack including Bismarck du Plessis and former France internationals Fulgence Ouedraogo and Louis Picamoles.

However, it's still largely a second string and bookmakers who reacted to the Wasps team announcement by cutting the handicap may have gone too far.

Montpellier have lost their last seven away matches to Premiership opposition and their results and team selections have long shown a general lack of commitment when it comes to their European travels and Wasps, buoyed by an opening win, should be far more focused.

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