La Rochelle vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Tigers to be left wounded

Leicester Tigers face a daunting start to their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign on Saturday evening (17:30, Premier Sports 2) when they head across the Channel to face two-time champions La Rochelle.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his La Rochelle vs Leicester Tigers prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the encounter at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

La Rochelle vs Leicester Tigers Odds

La Rochelle are the overwhelming 1/20 favourites for the win on home soil, while Leicester are 9/1 to head back to the East Midlands with the spoils.

A draw at Stade Marcel-Deflandre is currently 25/1, while the Tigersto be leading at the half-time whistle is 18/5.

Team News

Starting with La Rochelle, Alexandre Kaddouri, Tolu Latu and Joel Sclavi get the green light to make up the front row.

Locks Thomas Lavault and Charles Kante Samba start in the engine room, while Oscar Jegou, Levani Botia and Greg Alldritt complete the pack in the back row.

Thomas Berjon and Ihaia West start in the half-backs, with Ulupano Seuteni and Adrien Séguret in the centres.

Jules Favre and Davit Niniashvili start on the wings, with Dillyn Leyds at full-back.

As for Leicester, the Tigers have several players set to make their first starts in the Champions Cup this weekend.

The visitors go with Tarek Haffar, Charlie Clare and Will Hurd in the front row, with Cameron Henderson and Harry Wells in the engine room.

James Thompson, Joshua Manz and Joaquin Moro complete the pack, with Tom Whiteley and Billy Searle in the half-backs.

Joseph Woodward and Will Wand start in the centres, while Ollie Hassell-Collins, Adam Radwan and George Pearson form the back three for the Tigers.

La Rochelle -22 handicap @ 6/5

Looking at the 23-man squad for the Tigers, 10 players have made less than 10 first-team appearances for the club.

A trend that seems to be occurring across the Champions Cup, if sides feel they don't stand much chance of winning, especially in the opening weeks of the tournament, they will keep their powder dry for home games and winnable away clashes.

Given the big names missing for the Tigers, it's clear head coach Geoff Parling is prioritising other games down the line.

That will play into the hands of La Rochelle boss Ronan O'Gara and his La Rochelle stars, who will be eager to put up a big score in front of their own fans at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

With France back-rower Alldritt set to lead his side, this sizeable La Rochelle pack could overwhelm Leicester, with the hosts backline also has dangerous runners in the wide channels.

If La Rochelle manage to come out of the traps quickly in the first half and put the Tigers on the back foot, the hosts should be able to overcome the -22 handicap on Saturday.

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