The rugby union Champions Cup final is scheduled to take place on the 14th May 2016 and with the group phase done and dusted we’re taking a closer look at the outright winner betting for this year’s tournament. The quarter finals will take place on the 9th and 10th April so there’s still plenty of time to get your bets on and our preview will help you pick the eventual winner. We’ve got live odds comparison for the outright winner market, as well as betting tips, predictions and analysis so read on for the lowdown on European rugby’s premier club competition.
The replacement for the Heineken Cup is in just its second year but is already proving a success and there are now just eight teams left. Defending champions Toulon are one of those but the French giants are only ranked the third favourites in the outright betting, priced at best odds of 9/2 with Coral. Having lost some top, top players recently, Toulon did well to qualify from a tough pool and their record of five wins was impressive.
However, the current champions haven’t scored enough points in this competition and, despite sitting second in the French Top 14 table – where they have scored freely – we don’t think they have quite got enough options to go all the way once again.
They face Racing in the quarters and their fellow French side, who are seeded third in the Champions Cup, sit at the head of the Top 14 despite having played a game fewer than Toulon and are priced at 3/1 with Bet365 in the outright winner market. Racing, based in Colombes, Paris, are second favourites for the tournament with the odds men and we predict they will take some stopping if they can see off Toulon here. This is a really tough game for Racing and although Toulon are seeded sixth, realistically they remain one of the top three or four sides in European rugby union. Whoever does prevail will have a great chance of going all the way but with home advantage we predict Racing will be the ones flying the French flag in the semis.
Stade Francais are the third and final French side in the quarters but they face a tough trip to Leicester, the Tigers being seeded second. Leicester are priced at 6/1 in the outright winner betting, compared to 16/1 for their opponents and that tells you all you need to know. Leicester finished four points clear of the French in Pool 4, and although they lost in January to Stade, in Paris, on home soil we expect a very different result.
The clear favourites for this year’s European Cup are Saracens, who face Northampton in the quarters. The Saints are priced at 25/1 with most firms in the outright, with the best betting odds on Sarries going all the way being just 2/1 with Ladbrokes. Those odds are a fair reflection of the two sides and we predict a relatively easy win in the quarters for the team that romped to six wins in six in Pool 1.
Mark McCall’s men are worthy favourites and we certainly predict they will go very close this season. They lost in the semis last year but as Premiership Champions they are looking even better this season and really will take some stopping.
They will probably have to beat either Racing Metro or Leicester in the final and whilst a game with either of those brilliant teams would be close, there is no doubt that the favourites have got what it takes to edge it. Saracens have a brilliant balanced side, some sensational forwards, masses of pace and bags of experience: in short, they are our betting tip for glory in this year’s European Champions Cup.