Toulouse vs Durban Sharks Prediction: Meafou can add to Sharks’ misery

Record six-time winners Toulouse fell in the semi-finals of last season's Champions Cup and begin their quest for a seventh crown against the Sharks on Sunday.

Rugby Union odds

Injuries caught up with Stade as they went down 35-18 to eventual winners Bordeaux but the big names are returning and they are able to include iconic scrum-half Antoine Dupont among their replacements for the second week running.

The Sharks finished fifth in Pool 1 last season, dropping into the Challenge Cup where they lost to Lyon. They will be without Eben Etzebeth until the end of March after the lock's ban for 12 matches for an eye gouge in South Africa's record 73-0 win over Wales.

They also revealed on Friday that Sunday's fixture will be head coach John Plumtree's last in charge after a tough start to the season featuring only one win in six.

Team news

Prop Rodrigue Neti, lock Thibaud Flament, flanker Anthony Jelonch and number eight Alexandre Roumat come into the pack.

Behind the scrum, Blair Kinghorn, Teddy Thomas and Thomas Ramos are included, while Dupont is on the bench available after making his return from eight months out in the 48-24 win over Racing 92.

Lock JJ Scheepers and flanker Bathobele Hlekani make their Sharps debuts, while replacements Cebo Dlamini and Jannes Potgieter are also due to make their first appearances.

Number eight Nick Hatton will captain the team with Siya Kolisi among those who could come back into contention for next week's visit from Saracens.

Match odds

Toulouse are 1/100, with Sharks 22/1 and the draw 25/1.

The three-way handicap is set at 42 points, with Toulouse -42 priced at 5/6.

Toulouse -44 @ 5/6

Toulouse won 20-8 when these teams met in Durban last January, and also triumphed 54-20 in the quarter-finals of the 2022-23 campaign.
Sunday could be more comfortable for the hosts, who take on an inexperienced side lacking confidence and who are unlikely to see Plumtree off with a victory.

A heavily rotated side points to the Sharks going strong for Dobson's expected replacement JP Pietersen's first game in charge.
Ugo Mola's hosts have lost only once at home in 2025 and are expected to win easily.

Emmanuel Meafou anytime tryscorer @ 6/5

Lock Emmanuel Meafou scored five tries in the pool stages of last season's Champions Cup and has the scoring touch after going over in Toulouse's win over Racing.

Meafou's physicality makes him a nice foil to his more skilful lock partner, Flament, and he is happy to do the dirty work while his fellow French international works the wide channels.

The 27-year-old often uses his almost 23-stone frame to power over and can add another five points to his tally.

Rugby Union betting tips with Betfred Insights.