Sunday’s European Champions Cup predictions and rugby union betting tips

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Sunday's last-16 first-leg games in the European Champions Cup.

Montpellier v Harlequins

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 1pm Sunday

Best bet

Montpellier to win by one to 12 points
1pt 8-5 BoyleSports

Match preview

Montpellier tasted European glory last season when winning the Challenge Cup and, with the whiff of silverware in the air again, the Top 14 leaders may start to get their act together in the Champions Cup after a rocky pool stage.

An awarded 28-0 win over Leinster and a narrow bonus-point victory against Exeter were enough to see the Cistuses through, but their reputation took a battering along the way.

Reaching the last 16 masked the effects of an 89-7 humbling by Leinster and an equally one-sided loss at Exeter, and so with Montpellier currently shining domestically, their commitment to Europe remains slightly questionable.

However, Montpellier's star power is tough to ignore and they have enough quality to edge out a Harlequins team who needed a large slice of good fortune to emerge from the pool stages unbeaten.

Quins have won five in a row in the Premiership and looked sharp in attack when putting London Irish to the sword 41-14 last time out. However, that scoreline masked some defensive failings that may be exposed by Montpellier.

Clermont v Leicester Tigers

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 3.15pm Sunday

Best bet

Clermont
2pts 20-21 bet365

Match preview

Keeping the tie alive after a trip to fortress Stade Marcel Michelin looks eminently achievable for Leicester but anything beyond that may prove tricky.

Perennial Champions Cup bridesmaids Clermont have won six home games on the spin since Ulster's shock pool-stage win over the Yellows and enter this last-16 first-leg clash in good form having won four of the last five in the Top 14.

They lost star wing Damian Penaud to injury in their most recent win - a 41-10 success over Brive - but can still call upon a backline chockful of quality with centre Wesley Fofana recalled after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Leicester are yet to taste defeat in Europe and won in Bordeaux in the pool stages. They welcome fly-half George Ford back from injury, and Clermont will surely not underestimate a Tigers side who have won 21 of 24 games in the Premiership and Europe.

The unique two-legged nature of the last 16 means Clermont will be desperate to take some kind of lead to Welford Road for the return fixture, adding to Leicester’s run of 14 defeats from their last 16 Champions Cup matches on French soil in the process.

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