La Rochelle vs Exeter Chiefs
The current holders take on the former champions as La Rochelle host the Exeter Chiefs. The home side are facing their third straight English team having seen off Gloucester and Saracens in the previous rounds. The Chiefs surprised many in the previous round when they beat the URC champions the Stormers. It was not so much the victory but rather the demolition job they carried out against a team laden with Springboks. La Rochelle will fancy their chances of beating Exeter as the English team have been very poor on their travels. They have only won one of their last ten away matches.
TIP: The home team should keep changes to a minimum as they easily outplayed a very strong Saracens team. La Rochelle have arguably the most powerful pack in Europe and they will certainly target the Chiefs in the set piece. The best chance the visitors have of making it a close contest is to avoid set pieces and try to run the ball at the big La Rochelle forwards. Gloucester came within a single score of beating them by playing a high tempo game. The bookies have La Rochelle as favourites and I’m also tipping them for the win. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Betway 1.16, Gbets 1.16 and Hollywoodbets 1.17
HEAD TO HEAD STATS
La Rochelle vs Exeter Chiefs
- Exeter has won the previous four matches against La Rochelle.
- All of Exeter’s wins against La Rochelle were by more than 16 point margins.
Latest results for both teams
La Rochelle beat Clermont 26-13 in their last match while Exeter Chiefs beat Bristol Bears 22-21 in their last match.
PREDICTION
The blue print to beat La Rochelle may be to run at them but the Chiefs are not that type of team as they prefer to keep the ball among their forwards. If the teams get into a forward dominated battle, then there will only be one winner and that is the home team. The home team have two of the most destructive loose forwards in the game in Captain Grégory Alldritt and Levani Botia. The Chiefs will need to stop these two players from getting any time over the ball as they will wreak havoc at the breakdown. La Rochelle have too many super stars across their team therefore I am predicting a home win by more than 13 points.
Probable Starting XVs
La Rochelle
15 Brice Dulin, 14 Jules Favre, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Tawera Kerr Barlow, 8 Grégory Alldritt (captain), 7 Levani Botia, 6 Ultan Dillane, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 1 Reda Wardi.
Exeter Chiefs
15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Jack Nowell (captain), 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sean O’Brien, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Will Becconsall, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 6 Jannes Kirsten, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Scott Sio.
Odds for this bet
The best odds on the La Rochelle victory are as follows:
Betway 1.16
Gbets 1.16
Hollywoodbets 1.17
Odds comparison on the La Rochelle handicap:
The complete odds on the La Rochelle handicap:
Betway 1.95 (-12.5)
Gbets 1.91 (-12.5)
Hollywoodbets 1.92 (-12.5)
Predictions and Odds in details
There are poor returns on the Leinster outright win but if you looking for better odds then we suggest the away team on the handicap. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Betway 1.95 (-12.5), Gbets 1.91 (-12.5) and Hollywoodbets 1.92 (-12.5)
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Sports crazy fan that follows all major sport but the game with the oval ball is my real passion. Was an age level rugby coach and a huge supporter of the Springboks and diehard Liverpool man. I’m an experienced punter and sports writer whose predictions/tips are sure to stir up the emotions. I love the occasional wager on the underdog.
