Bayonne vs Exeter Chiefs Prediction: Chiefs can secure clean sweep

With three wins from three already, Exeter Chiefs will be looking to complete a clean sweep in the European Champions Cup pool stage when they travel to Bayonne on Sunday, Jan 21st (17:30).

Bayonne can mathematically reach the Round of 16 but they would need to secure a big win with a bonus point against the Chiefs, while also relying on the result between Munster and Northampton.

The Chiefs will be determined to make sure they secure a home knockout game and they look capable of achieving that on Sunday.

Match Odds

Despite being at home, Bayonne are the underdogs at 2/1 in the match winner market to come out on top.

Exeter are 2/5 favourites to claim the win in southwest France, while a tie on Sunday evening is available at 20/1.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Bayonne have gone with a back three of Aurelien Callandret, Tom Spring and Victor Hannoun, with Yan Lestrade and Sireli Maqala in the centres.

It’s Guillamaume Rouet and Thomas Dolhagaray in the half-backs, while the back-row is made up of Pierre Huguet, Baptiste Heguy and Rodrigo Bruni.

Skipper Denis Marchois and Konstantine Mikauadze make up the second-row, with Matis Perchaud, Vincent Guidicelli and Luke Tagi in the front-row.

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has made five changes for the trip to Stade Jean-Dauger, with highly-rated full-back Josh Hodge returning from injury.

Hodge is joined in the back three by Olly Woodburn and Ben Hammersley, while Ollie Devoto and Henry Slade make up the centre partnership. Tom Cairns and Harvey Skinner will line up again in the half-backs.

Fresh off his first call-up to the Scotland squad ahead of the Six Nations, prop Alec Hepburn starts in the front-row alongside Dan Frost and Ehren Painter.

Wales skipper Dafydd Jenkins and Rusi Tuima make up the second-row, with a settled back-row of Ethan Roots, Jacques Vermeulen and Greg Fisilau.

Exeter -9.5 handicap @ 6/4

Bayonne will still be reeling after their embarrassing display against Northampton Saints last time out, as the Top 14 outfit went down 61-14 at Franklin’s Gardens.

They will be a much sterner proposition at home, but the fact qualification for the knockouts looks unlikely for the hosts might well play a role.

Exeter will look to come out of the blocks quickly and should they get a lead, it might well be a long evening for a Bayonne side who have won just five of their 12 games in the Top 14 so far this season.

The return of Hodge is a big boost for Exeter and he will be a player to look out for in the anytime tryscorer market.

Cairns and Skinner will need to manage the game and try to get Exeter playing in the right areas of the field on Sunday.

Exeter have a quality side and that ability should see them secure a home knockout tie, while also falling on the right side of a -9.5 handicap.

Rugby Union betting tips, from Betfred Insights.