La Rochelle vs Harlequins Prediction: Quins to falter when they head West
La Rochelle looked like the side that won successive Champions Cups in 2022 and 2023 at times in last Saturday's one-point loss to Leinster and know a win on Sunday will guarantee qualification to the knockout rounds.
In their way stands Harlequins, who got a free pass against a significantly understrength Stormers but still deserve credit for running out 61-10 winners.
However, they have lost their last 12 away matches in all competitions and there's a fear their soft underbelly could be exposed again in their final Pool 3 fixture. Read on for my La Rochelle vs Harlequins predictions.
La Rochelle vs Harlequins Betting Tips
*odds correct at time of publication
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Team News
La Rochelle have made six changes, with prop Alexandre Kaddouri, lock Paul Boudehent and number eight Judicael Cancoriet included in the pack.
Centre Ulupano Seuteni, wing Nathan Bollengier and scrum-half Thomas Berjon also come into the back-line.
Harlequins have made just one alteration from the team that beat Stormers, with Joe Launchbury coming into the second row to make his 50th appearance for the club.
Meanwhile, Jack Kenningham wears the number seven shirt, two days after signing his new deal at Twickenham Stoop.
La Rochelle vs Harlequins Odds
La Rochelle are 1/14 to win, with the tie 28/1 and Quins 7/1 to break their losing away run.
The Handicap 3-Way is set at 19 points, with Les Maritimes -19 priced at 10/11.
La Rochelle -23 @ 13/10
La Rochelle lost the Champions Cup final to Toulouse in 2021 before beating Leinster in the 2022 and 2023 showpieces.
The last couple of years have felt like the end of a cycle, with their players getting older and coach Ronan O'Gara being linked with jobs elsewhere.
However, they looked like they were back to their old selves in Dublin, leading Leinster in the final stages before Harry Byrne kicked an 81st-minute penalty.
Discipline has been an issue, with Louis Penverne's late infringement costing them at the Aviva, but no such problems should be present on Sunday, with Les Martimes expected to dominate the ball and their pack to bulldoze their visitors.
Quins had a tough break by losing head coach Danny Wilson a fortnight before the season.
Decent wins over Saracens and last week against Stormers show they can produce. However, both of those were at home and they look vulnerable to a sizable defeat on the road.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Ihaia West to score a try anytime @ 2/1
Those with longer memories may remember fly-half Ihaia West inspiring the Blues to victory over the 2017 British & Irish Lions.
Things didn't always go his way in Auckland, but he has proved an excellent servant to La Rochelle, originally joining from 2018 to 2022 before returning in 2023 after a year at Toulon.
The impish playmaker goes up against a similar player in Marcus Smith, but should have more ball and showed what he can do in possession in Dublin.
West finished with two tries and is worth backing for another score on Sunday.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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