Leicester Tigers vs Bayonne Prediction: Parling’s side to lay down a marker

Leicester Tigers will attempt to inject some momentum into their Champions Cup campaign by disposing of Bayonne at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday (20:00 kick-off, live on Premier Sports 1). Geoff Parling's side are alongside the French outfit with two losses from two so far in Pool 3, where the Stormers and Leinster lead the way.

Advancing to the knockouts will rely on Leicester taking care of business on a cold January night at Welford Road and, in their current run of good form, they should give the home crowd what they want. Enda McElhinney provides his best bets in his Leicester Tigers vs Bayonne prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in the East Midlands.

Leicester Tigers vs Bayonne Odds

Leicester Tigers are overwhelming 1/100 favourites to get their maiden Champions Cup win of the season, with Bayonne trading at 22/1 for a Welford Road upset and the draw priced at 25/1.

On the three-way handicaps the Tigers can be backed at 5/6 conceding a 35-point start, with Bayonne at 20/21 and the handicap tie 20/1.

Team News

Tommy Reffell returns to the Tigers XV as one of three changes from the win over Saracens. Charlie Clare also comes into the pack, where James Thompson and Olly Cracknell retain their places, with Sam Williams and Jamie Blamire missing out.

The third change is on the left wing, as Gabriel Hamer Webb returns to the starting side for the first time since injuring his hamstring three months ago.

Bayonne added English veteran Manu Tuilagi to their squad for round three, with prop Marco Fepulea'l omitted.

Leicester Tigers -37 points @ 11/10

Bayonne have lost three of their last four games by margins of 30+ points. Two of those, the 68-14 reverse against Harlequins in round two of this competition and last weekend's 62-22 defeat at Montpellier in the Top 14, were by 40-or-more points.

They head for Welford Road to face a Tigers side that made it five Gallagher Prem win in six games as they defeated old foes Saracens 36-28 on home soil last Sunday.

Tigers head coach Parling talked this week of returning the club to being a side that is 'consistently challenging and playing in big knockout games and finals'.

The first step on that pathway is landing a comprehensive opening Champions Cup win of the season and Leicester are fancied to breeze past Bayonne.

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