Heineken Champions Cup Predictions: Round 3

The Heineken Cup returns this weekend, with time running out for teams to secure their places in the next stage, and some of them have must-win fixtures.

Here are my Heineken Champions Cup predictions for Round 3.

Cardiff v Harlequins

Quins won the reverse fixture by 26 points, and should be able to follow that up with an away win. Harlequins by 9

Castres v Munster

This is a tough trip, and Munster haven’t been at their best, but I’ll go with the majority in picking a win for the Irish. Munster by 4

Wasps v Toulouse

The French are likely to be too good for Wasps, although an upset isn’t out of the question. Toulouse by 6

Ospreys v Racing

This should be a comfortable win for Racing, the superior team by a distance on paper. Racing by 23

Connacht v Leicester

The Tigers suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend, and this is a difficult away fixture. I’m tipping them to prevail and put last week’s loss down as a blip. Leicester by 2

Exeter v Glasgow

Finally I can pick a home win! They were beaten away from home, but Exeter should come through this at Sandy Park. Exeter by 6

La Rochelle v Bath

Bath finally won a match last weekend, but they’ll be thrashed here. La Rochelle by 28

Bristol v Stade Francais

This should be another home win, with Bristol making their first appearance of the tournament after their first two matches were abandoned. Bristol by 13

Leinster v Montpellier

This should be a great fixture at the Aviva Stadium, and it’s hard to pick against Leinster at home, even against a big French side like Montpellier. Leinster by 6

Northampton v Ulster

Everyone will pick Ulster here because they’ve won two, whilst Northampton have lost two so far, but I’m leaning towards a home win, based mostly on instinct. Northampton by 4

Bordeaux v Scarlets

Scarlets are also yet to play a match, and this is a tough opener away in Bordeaux, and I expect they’ll come away empty-handed. Bordeaux by 13

Clermont v Sale

Clermont know they need to win to keep their hopes alive, and you have to back them at home, where I suspect they’ll deny Sale a losing bonus point. Clermont by 9