Leicester v Ulster predictions and rugby union tips: Take the visitors

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Leicester v Ulster in the European Challenge Cup on Friday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Friday

Best bet

Ulster to win by one to 12 points
1pt 9-5 Betfair

Match preview

Leicester and Ulster’s glory days as champions of Europe were the best part of two decades ago, but a place in the final of the European Challenge Cup is up for grabs when the teams meet at Welford Road on Friday night.

Ulster’s only taste of silverware since their 1999 European success was the Pro14 title in 2006, while Leicester’s last trophy was the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2017.

So there’s no doubt both sides will be fully focused on reaching the final of Europe’s secondary competition for the first time, and Ulster look best equipped to take that step.

The teams have met ten times in European competition, Ulster winning seven of those, a tally that crucially includes two away wins.

The most recent meeting was in 2019 when Ulster battled back from 13-0 down to triumph 14-13, and while things may not be quite as dramatic in this encounter, it looks set to be just as close-fought.

Leicester finished bottom of their pool that year and second-bottom of the Premiership, and while they look to be climbing back towards their former heights under Steve Borthwick, there’s still a lack of consistency to their performance.

Ulster in recent years have suffered from being in the shade of Munster and Leinster in the Pro14. They finished second in their pool this season with an equal record to table-toppers Leinster of 14 wins from 16 and their European record has been equally strong.

An opening 29-22 defeat to Toulouse, who line up in the Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday, was followed by a rollercoaster 38-34 defeat to Gloucester, meaning Ulster dropped down to the Challenge Cup.

But in the knockout stages they have won away at Premiership sides Harlequins and Northampton, who are both higher than Leicester in the table, and a trip to the East Midlands is unlikely to hold any fear.

Both teams have produced some high-scoring matches in the knockout stage - Ulster beat Quins 51-27 and Northampton 35-27, while Leicester were 48-32 winners over Connacht before defeating Newcastle 39-15.

Leicester’s half-back pairing of Richard Wigglesworth and George Ford are made for a territorial kicking game, but there’s plenty of attacking edge too with Nemani Nadolo, scorer of two tries in the defeat to Northampton last week, on the wing.

It could be another high-scoring affair but Ulster have been more consistent and solid all season and can edge another away victory.

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