Friday's European Champions Cup predictions and rugby union tips

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Ulster v Northampton and Montpellier v Leinster in the European Champions Cup.

Ulster v Northampton

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm

Best bet

Ulster to win by 11-20 points
1pt 11-5 bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes

Preview

Northampton were on the wrong end of a painful European Champions Cup lesson at the hands of Racing 92 last time out and they are unlikely to enjoy what Ulster have in store for them.

The Saints make the trip across the Irish Sea more in hope than expectation of repeating the famous 10-9 victory they enjoyed on their last visit to Ravenhill with Chris Boyd’s men still nursing the wounds inflicted by a 45-14 loss to Racing.

Ulster are a different beast to the French giants but are no less dangerous, as they proved when securing a famous 29-23 success over Clermont last weekend.

A first win on French soil in over five years coupled with a recent victory at Leinster marks Ulster out as a team to fear, and the home side are 1-9 to inflict what would be a ninth defeat in Northampton’s last 11 trips to Ireland.

Saints are without fly-half Dan Biggar due to a thigh issue so George Furbank will wear the ten shirt, while Courtney Lawes and Tom Wood return to boost a pack who will need plenty of help against a powerful Ulster front.

Iain Henderson is back for an Ulster team who hand a home debut to World Cup-winning back-row Duane Vermeulen but they are without injured Ireland wing Robert Baloucoune.

Ulster have failed to breach the 30-point mark in their last six games but without Biggar’s boot to keep Saints in touch, the home side should enjoy a comfortable margin of victory.

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