Toulouse v La Rochelle: Top 14 semi-final betting preview, tip & TV details

Sky Sports Red Button/Arena, 8pm Saturday

La Rochelle deserve plenty of respect against Toulouse in the first Top 14 semi-final after they continued a recent trend towards playoffs shocks by beating Racing 92 19-13 at La Defense Arena last Friday, a venue where they had lost heavily in the regular season.

However, rather than a wager on the Privateers to stay within ten points of the rejuvenated red and blacks at Bordeaux's Matmut Atlantique Stadium, back the top seeds to claim a third narrow success against La Rochelle this term.

Toulouse, chasing a first domestic title since 2012, have lost only five games all season and two of those were at Leinster in the Champions Cup. As well as a 23-19 victory over La Rochelle at Stade Marcel Deflandre, there have been 12 away triumphs, ten by 12 points or fewer.

They are playing a dynamic brand of rugby with Antoine Dupont, whether at scrum-half or fly-half, mixing seamlessly pack powerplays with livewire backline moves featuring South African king of the steppers Cheslin Kolbe.

La Rochelle struggled for rhythm when they lost last month's European Challenge Cup final 36-16 to Clermont in Newcastle and two years ago, when top seeds, they were turned over 18-15 by Toulon in Marseille.

Recommendation
Toulouse to win by one to 12 points
1pt 6-4 Betway, BoyleSports

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