The United Rugby Championship takes a break this weekend as European rugby takes centre stage, with the first Round of the Investec Champions Cup getting underway.
All three of the South African sides in the competition are in action on Saturday, with the Bulls taking on Stade Français, the Stormers facing Bristol Bears and the Lions travelling to face Stade Rochelais. Each side arrives with a different story to tell, with the Bulls coming off a big win over the Lions, the Stormers fresh from beating the Sharks and the Lions looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat.
Bulls v Stade Francais — Click here to bet
The Bulls have won two of their first three URC games, beating Zebre 47-13 away, losing 22-26 away to Munster, and then putting 57-15 on the Lions at home last weekend. That latest result will give them plenty of confidence heading into a European fixture.
Stade Français have also won two of their last three, beating Lyon 31-10 at home, losing 35-32 away to Aviron Bayonnais, and then beating Montpellier 30-22 at home last weekend.
Head-to-Head
The two sides have met once in recent times, with the Bulls winning the match 48-7 in Pretoria.
Betting and Verdict
The Bulls are at 1.02 to win, with Stade Français at 18.00 and the draw trading at 61.00.
The handicap is Bulls -24.5.
We saw what happened the last time Stade Français were in Pretoria, and so we think the Bulls will cover the handicap again. The Bulls scored 57 points last weekend, and a similar attacking performance at home would see them cover this number, while Stade Français conceded 32 points to Bayonne only a couple of games ago.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Bulls [-24.5] at 1.91
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Stormers v Bristol Bears — Click here to bet
The Stormers have won two of their last three URC games, beating the Sharks 39-22 last weekend, losing 17-13 away to Edinburgh in Round 2, and beginning the season with a 29-15 win away to Connacht in Round 1.
Bristol Bears come into the game having lost 30-7 away to Saracens last weekend in the Premiership, after beating Northampton 41-26 at home and Sale 34-24 away from home.
Head-to-Head
The two sides are yet to meet.
Betting and Verdict
The Stormers are favourites to win, trading at 1.06, while the bookies have Bristol Bears at 12.00, with the draw at 46.00.
The handicap is Stormers -20.5.
South African sides have struggled in the Champions Cup, and I think -20.5 is a tall order for a team who do not usually run away with games. The Stormers’ two wins in their last three came by 17 and 14 points, and they lost by four to Edinburgh in between, so a winning margin of more than 20 would be a significant step up from what we have seen so far this season. That makes Bristol Bears at +20.5 look appealing.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Bristol Bears [+20.5] at 1.87.
Stade Rochelais v Lions — Click here to bet
La Rochelle come into the game having won two of their last three, beating Lyon 28-16 away last weekend and Clermont 38-13 at home the week prior, after a 39-17 loss away to Section Paloise.
The Lions started their URC campaign with a 27-26 home win over Leinster in Round 1 and a 35-19 home win over the Ospreys in Round 2, before a 57-15 defeat away to the Bulls in Round 3.
Head-to-Head
The teams have not previously met..
Betting and Verdict
La Rochelle are favourites, trading at 1.12, while the Lions are at 7.50 and the draw is trading at 34.00.
The handicap is La Rochelle -15.5.
We chose the handicap for La Rochelle based on their form in the Champions Cup in recent years. After the way the Lions were beaten by the Bulls last weekend, travelling to France for a European fixture is a tough ask, and we expect La Rochelle to cover.
The Lions did well to win their first two URC games, including a one-point win over Leinster, but conceding 57 points to the Bulls shows how quickly things can go wrong, and a French side with La Rochelle’s recent European pedigree will look to take full advantage.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Stade Rochelais [-15.5] at 1.95.
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