Investec Champions Cup Predictions – Round of 16

Absent from the elite group are the South African trio of the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers, who failed to qualify for the knockout stages of Europe’s top-flight club competition.

Six French clubs – top-ranked Bordeaux-Begles, defending champions Toulouse, Toulon, Clermont, La Rochelle and Castres – are still in the running, along with five English clubs – Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Saracens and Harlequins – three Irish clubs – Leinster, Muster and Ulster – Scottish representatives the Glasgow Warriors and Italian outfit Benetton.

Here’s how we see things playing out:

Northampton Saints v Clermont

When: Friday, 4 April – 21:00

Pool 3 table-toppers and reigning Premiership champions the Northampton Saints won three of their four pool games, including claiming a 30-21 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. They’re struggling for form at the moment with three consecutive defeats on the domestic front but will be back to full-strength for this one.

Wins over Benetton (28-0) and the Bristol Bears (33-26) were enough for Clermont to qualify for the last 16. They scored a morale-boosting 33-19 victory over La Rochelle in the TOP 14 last weekend to snap a five-match losing streak, but all these wins were at home. They’re not the same side on the road, so the Saints should prevail. 

Prediction: Northampton Saints by 10.
Suggested Bet: Clermont +11 at 1.90.

Toulon v Saracens

When: Saturday, 5 April – 13:30

It’s a clash of two three-time champions at Stade Félix Mayol.

Toulon clinched top spot in Pool 4 with wins over the Stormers (24-14), the Glasgow Warriors (30-29) and Harlequins (33-21), while Saracens started with back-to-back wins over the Bulls (27-5) and Stade Francais (28-17) before dropping their next two against Munster (17-12) and Castres (32-24) to qualify 13th.

One cannot count out Saracens, who’re coming off a 29-22 away win over the Leicester Tigers in the Premiership, but a trip to France to tackle Toulon is a different proposition altogether. Bank on the hosts to get it done.

Prediction: Toulon by 12.
Suggested Bet: Saracens +17 at 1.90.

Leinster v Harlequins

When: Saturday, 5 April – 16:00

Runners-up for the last three seasons, Leinster are doing everything in their power to go all the way this year and topped Pool 2 with a perfect four from four.

The Irish giants have lost just once in all competitions and that was to a last-gasp penalty goal to the Bulls without their Irish internationals in the United Rugby Championship recently.

Harlequins qualified in lowly 15th place thanks to victories over the Stormers (53-16) and the Glasgow Warriors (24-7) and are looking to progress beyond the Round of 16 for only the second time in their history.

The south-west London side proved they can cause an upset when they stunned Bordeaux in last year’s quarterfinals, but they won’t be a match for a full-strength Leinster side.

Prediction: Leinster by 18.
Suggested Bet: Harlequins +21 at 1.90.

Castres v Benetton

When: Saturday, 5 April – 16:00

The two surprise packages of the season square off at Stade Pierre-Fabre.

Castres had an impressive three-win pool stage, which helped them on their way to the knockouts for the first time since 2002. Meanwhile, Benetton rallied from being blanked 28-0 by Clermont in their campaign opener to claim wins over Bath (22-21) and La Rochelle (32-25) to qualify for the knockouts for the first time ever.

Benetton are tactically sound but they’ve only won two games away from home in all competitions, against the two lowest-placed URC teams in Zebre and the Dragons. Castres are coming off a 28-26 triumph over Toulon in the TOP 14 and should end the Italians’ historic run.

Prediction: Castres by 9.
Suggested Bet: Castres -8 at 1.90.

La Rochelle v Munster

When: Saturday, 5 April – 18:30

Ronan O’Gara’s two-time champions face his former side Munster at Stade Marcel-Deflandre in what promises to be an unmissable match. With the man in charge of the Les Maritimes having steered their opposition to Champions Cup glory twice, this is one of the most compelling clashes of the weekend.

La Rochelle are far from the powerhouse side they were a couple of years ago as their shock loss to Benetton in the previous round showed. On top of that, they’re winless in their last eight games and 10th in the TOP 14. Munster are fifth in the URC and fresh off a 30-24 away win over Connacht.

Even with their current struggles, it takes a big effort to beat La Rochelle at home. They’re rightful favourites, but with the odds as they are, Munster are too juicy underdogs to pass up on.

Prediction: Munster by 1.
Suggested Bet: Munster at 3.25.

Glasgow Warriors v Leicester Tigers

When: Saturday, 5 April – 21:00

Reigning URC champions the Glasgow Warriors host two-time champions Leicester Tigers in their maiden home knockout match as they look to progress beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time.

Second on the URC log, Franco Smith’s side showed just how tough they are to contend with at home with their 42-0 whitewash of the Lions last weekend.

The Tigers, who sit fourth in the Premiership, have a master general in two-time World Cup-winning Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard, but the all-round game of Glasgow should see them make history.

Prediction: Glasgow Warriors by 5.
Suggested Bet: Leicester Tigers +8 at 1.90.

Bordeaux-Begles v Ulster

When: Sunday, 6 April – 13:30

Expect a blowout when top seeds Bordeaux-Begles host Ulster at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Bordeaux completed a perfect run in the pool stage, winning all their matches with try bonus points and French superstar Damian Penaud setting a new record for tries in one match, making this a nightmare away fixture for the Irish side.

A single win, a 52-24 triumph over the Exeter Chiefs, saw Ulster snatch the last qualifying spot. However, their journey will come to an abrupt end here against the same side who smashed them 40-19 in their backyard during the pool phase.

Prediction: Bordeaux-Begles by 32.
Suggested Bet: Bordeaux-Begles -23 at 1.90.

Toulouse v Sale Sharks

When: Sunday, 6 April – 16:00

Finally, record six-time champions Toulouse welcome the Sale Sharks to their fortress.

The reigning champions had a near-flawless pool stage, and while Sale are certainly the underdogs, they will draw confidence from their standout performance against Toulon.

That 33-7 result will surely boost the Manchester-based team’s confidence. However, it’ll come to nought as star-studded Toulouse are simply on another level.

Prediction: Toulouse by 28.
Suggested Bet: Toulouse -23 at 1.90.