Round 3 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup kicks off this weekend with two South African teams playing. The Lions will travel to play Montpellier while the Cheetahs will host Zebre at their Holland base.
Betting comes out late for Challenge Cup matches and our plays will be added closer to kick off, once teams are finalized and betting markets are established.
Montpellier v Lions
Montpellier are on a brilliant run of form winning their last five fixtures including three wins in the Top 14 and two wins in the Champions Cup putting them at the top of their group.
After a good start to the URC season the Lions have hit a dip in form winning only one of their last five matches in all competitions. Their most recent result was a 29-10 loss to the Stormers away from home in December. They lost to Ospreys on the road in their opening Challenge Cup game and then beat Section Paloise at home in a high scoring encounter and they sit 4th on the log.
Head-to-Head
The two sides met in January last year in the Challenge Cup where Montpellier won the match 13-3 at home. This is the only time the two sides have played each other.
Betting and Verdict
Montpelier’s recent run of form as well as their home ground advantage should be enough for them to deliver a comfortable win against the Lions.
That being said team selection will be important and we will return with our play on Saturday morning.
Handicap: Montpellier -10.5
Montpellier are a tough side to beat at home and they will be looking to cement their spot at the top of the table. I am backing them to win this comfortably.
BET: Montpellier -10.5 at 19/20
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Cheetahs v Zebre
The Cheetahs have only played two matches since the 2024 Currie Cup, drawing the first at their home base to Perpignan and losing the second to Cardiff with the score ending 26-10.
Zebre have hit a poor run of form losing all of their last four matches in all competitions. They lost back-to-back derbies against Benetton and they have lost to Connacht away and Lyon at home in the Challenge Cup.
Head-to-Head
The Cheetahs have won four of their last five matches against Zebre with the most recent result coming in 2023 where they won the match 15-33 away from home in this tournament.
Betting and Verdict
This should be a tight match and I expect Zebre to be priced up as slight favourites. A bet will follow once we have team news and prices.
Handicap: Cheetahs -7.5
Playing in this tournament is a big ask for the Cheetahs who don’t have the week in and week out competition the other teams do but I think they can put away a Zebre side that is probably happy to focus on the URC.
BET: Cheetahs -7.5 at 9/10
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
