La Rochelle v Sale Sharks: European Champions Cup prediction and free rugby tip

Free rugby union tips, best bets and analysis for La Rochelle v Sale Sharks in the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

La Rochelle to win by one to ten points
2pts 11-4 Betfair, Paddy Power
Back this tip with Paddy Power

Match preview

Sale still have a slim chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup, but it appears their priorities lie elsewhere.

A trip to France to face La Rochelle looks a tricky prospect and the home side are fancied to edge home.

The home team have had a disappointing European campaign, winning only one of their four pool matches. They have surprisingly lost both of their home fixtures and will be desperate to give their fans something to cheer.

Steve Diamond's Sale team selection points to a switch of focus towards the Premiership. They have made 15 changes from the side who impressively took apart Harlequins last weekend.

La Rochelle caused a major upset in the last round of European fixtures, winning away against Glasgow, and have won four of their last five games in the Top14 to move up to fourth in the table. They should end any faint hopes Sale have of making the knockout stages.

In Pool 3, two English clubs with nothing left to play for meet at the Rec. Bath and Harlequins will both be looking to bounce back from disappointing starts to 2020 in the Premiership.

Bath can count themselves unlucky to have four defeats out of four in the competition as three of their losses were by ten points or fewer, while Harlequins' double-header defeat to Ulster in December ended their chances of a first knockout-stage appearance since 2013.

Rotation is again the name of the game. Bath have made 14 changes but they have Anthony Watson at full back and they could still be too strong for Quins, who have struggled on the road this season.

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