Sunday's European Champions Cup predictions and rugby union tips

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

Best bets

Ulster +3
1pt Evs bet365

Toulouse to win by one to 12 points
1pt 13-8bet365

Sale v Ulster

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 1pm

Match preview

Premiership side Sale don't have the European pedigree of Ulster but they reached the quarter-finals last season and are renowned as a tough, attritional unit who have added some attacking spark this season.

The Sharks are narrow favourites at home but Ulster won at Clermont and Northampton in last season's Champions Cup while their only defeats in the United Rugby Championship this season have been to runaway leaders Leinster.

This could be a tight battle between two strong sides and taking Ulster with a three-point start looks the best approach.

Munster v Toulouse

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 3.15pm

Match preview

The match of the day on Sunday comes from Thomond Park in Limerick, where Toulouse have triumphed over Munster in the knockout stage of the Champions Cup in the last two seasons.

Last season's quarter-final went to the wire as the sides were locked at 24-24 after extra time before Toulouse went through on a penalty-kick contest, while the season before the French side won 40-33.

Munster struggled at the start of the season, winning just two of their first seven matches. But while back-to-back wins against Connacht and Edinburgh have steadied the ship, this is a huge test against the Top 14 leaders.

France international duo Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack form a world-class half-back pairing and there is a serious attacking threat in the back three plus power in the pack.

Toulouse won easily at Cardiff in their opening match last year and opened with an impressive 29-22 success at Ulster the season before, and this could be another solid road win.

Saracens v Edinburgh

Where to watch

ITV1 & BT Sport 2, 3.15pm

Match preview

Premiership leaders Saracens are among the market-leaders for European glory this season and up to 17-point favourites for an opening clash against Edinburgh.

The Scottish outfit haven't appeared at Europe's top table since 2020-21, when they were narrowly beaten 13-8 at home by La Rochelle but won 16-15 at Sale.

We're unlikely to see that kind of tight battle on Sunday as both teams boast genuine attacking flair and the total points line might be worth a look when prices are available.

Ospreys v Leicester

Where to watch

BT Sport 2 & S4C, 5.30pm

Match preview

These are tough times for Welsh rugby - national coach Wayne Pivac is gone after a poor year and the regions have been struggling.

But Ospreys look to have made a statement of intent by naming a team packed with international talent for this clash and there's a feeling that they are going to lay it all on the line.

While plenty of big guns return for the Welsh side after the autumn Tests - there are 11 internationals in the starting 15 - Leicester have made eight changes from the side that faced Bristol last week with Freddie Steward, Chris Ashton, Freddie Burns, Ben Youngs, Julian Montoya, Dan Cole, Tommy Reffell and Jasper Wiese all absent.

Leicester are 4-6 to open with an away win having been 1-4 at the start of the week, but any value in getting behind the Ospreys appears to have gone.

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