European Champions Cup: predictions, where to watch and free tips

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

Where to watch

BT Sport, from 1pm Saturday

Best bets

Leinster to beat Northampton by 21 to 30 points
1pt 10-3 Betfair, Paddy Power
Munster +9 v Clermont
2pts 10-11 Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

Only one round into the new stripped-down Champions Cup it's important to tread carefully and pay more attention than ever to team news. The four-match format is pretty unforgiving so once defeated teams may at least take the chance to rest their internationals - at the most throw the towel in altogether.

Tournament favourites Leinster give Europe their all and take on a Northampton side who suffered a home defeat in round one and have a few injuries to contend with (BT Sport 2, 1pm).

Fly-half Dan Biggar is out so George Furbank, more often seen at full-back, pulls on the number ten shirt, and there's a pretty youthful look to the side that will run out in Dublin.

These teams faced off in the group stage last season and before that in 2016-17. Leinster won all four meetings, by margins of 27 (twice), 29 and 47 points so a handicap in the 30s is far from a surprise.

However, Leinster have made a few changes themselves, notably giving Harry Byrne his first European start at fly-half after he came off the bench last week.

The pack is strong but a lot of responsibility will fall on Byrne to get the backline moving and forecast showers may not help.

The hosts should still win comfortably but a more modest margin of 21 to 30 points looks the best bet.

The heavyweight clash of the day is between Clermont and Munster in France (BT Sport 2, 5.30pm). Both sides won their opening contests - Clermont in spectacular style in a 51-38 try-fest in Bristol while Munster were more workmanlike to see off Harlequins 21-7 at home.

Munster's last trip to France ended in a 37-22 defeat to star-studded Racing but they don't often get turned over on their travels. They are given a nine-point start and although there is a fear that if Clermont open up the game with their pace Munster may struggle to find the firepower to fight back, they look solid enough to keep it close.

Saturday's other games are harder to call. Gloucester sent a young team to France in round one and were thumped 55-10 by Lyon.

The Cherry & Whites take on Ulster, who opened with a home defeat to Toulouse. The Irish side name a strong line-up and are six-point favourites.

Sale and Edinburgh are also winless and there could be quite a scrap when they meet at the AJ Bell, while a depleted Dragons side are given a start of 30 points-plus for their trip to Bordeaux.

Bath's match at La Rochelle and Glasgow's home game against Lyon have both been cancelled due to positive Covid tests.

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