Saturday's European Champions Cup predictions and rugby union tips

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

Best bets

Racing 92 +3
1pm Saturday
2pts 10-11 Hills

Lyon +8.5
5.30pm Saturday
1pt 10-11 bet365

Exeter to win by one to 12 points
8pm Saturday
1pt 7-4 Coral, Ladbrokes

Racing 92 v Leinster

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 1pm Saturday

Racing 92 v Leinster preview

European Champions Cup glory is top of the agenda for both Leinster and Racing this season but the French side could show the greater desire to record a statement win.

Leinster will no doubt be highly motivated to avenge last season’s loss to La Rochelle in the Champions Cup final as they chase a joint-record fifth title, particularly with this year’s final being held in Dublin.

They’ve warmed for the return of Europe by winning nine out of nine in the URC and bring a squad packed full of Ireland internationals to Le Havre, led by World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van de Flier.

Two names conspicuous by their absences from the travelling party are Johnny Sexton and Tadhg Furlong, and Leinster could miss their experience when tackling a Racing side riding a five-match winning run.

Racing rested their big hitters for a win in Toulon last week and back up to full strength, the Top 14’s highest-scoring side appeal as home underdogs for a clash between two evenly matched teams.

Lyon v Bulls

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 5.30pm

Bulls v Lyon preview

The inclusion of South African teams in this year’s Champions Cup has caused a stir and they may not add much value to the competition if they send out understrength teams as the Bulls are planning to do against Lyon.

Director of rugby Jake White has changed his entire team from the URC win over Cardiff last week, omitting several big names and leaving them vulnerable to European Challenge Cup holders Lyon.

The handicap has been cut from 15 points to 8.5 as a result of the Bulls’ team news but that mark still looks too big - even taking into consideration the heat and altitude that come with playing at Loftus Versfeld - for a Lyon side who have made a decent start to the Top 14 season.

Castres v Exeter Chiefs

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm

Castres v Exeter Chiefs preview

Exeter’s trip to Castres clashes with another high-profile England against France encounter which may overshadow what appears a winnable game for the Chiefs.

One of the wrinkles of betting on the Champions Cup is working out which French teams are invested in the tournament and which aren’t, and Castres fall into the latter category.

They lost all four pool-stage matches last season, including two narrow home defeats, and have named a weakened team for the visit of an Exeter side with decent European pedigree.

The Chiefs aren’t the same side who won the Champions Cup in 2020 and have made a below-par start in the Premiership this season, but there’s enough talent in their line-up to suggest they can claim a narrow win.

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