Gloucester vs Castres Prediction: Winning Champions Cup return for the Cherry and Whites

Gloucester return to the Champions Cup for the first time in three seasons when they host Castres at Kingsholm on Sunday.

The pair are in Pool 2, with the Cherry and Whites set to play Munster next weekend, before a trip to Edinburgh on January 9 and then Toulon's visit eight days later.

Rugby Union odds

George Skivington's side collected their first victory in this season's Prem when they beat Harlequins 26-15 last Saturday and have now won three in a row, when including narrow cup successes over Sale and Bath.
Castres beat Perpignan 23-7 in their last game and look set to rotate with a winnable home fixture against Edinburgh in round two, before January's dates with Bath and Munster.
Last season, they shocked Saracens 32-24 away to take second in Pool 3, but another upset on Sunday is unlikely, with Gloucester tipped to start their return with a decent win.

Team News

Gloucester have made one change from the victory over Harlequins. Max Llewellyn comes in at outside centre in a move that means Will Joseph will push out to the right wing, and Ben Redshaw drops to full-back.

Former New Zealand prop Nepo Laulala is among those unavailable for selection.

Another ex-Kiwi international, Jack Goodhue, a try scorer in Castres' win over Perpignan last Saturday, is among their replacements.

Vuate Karawalevu moves in from the wing to partner fellow Fijian Vilimoni Botitu in the midfield.

Match odds

Gloucester are 2/5 to win on Sunday, with Castres 2/1 for a Kingsholm upset and the draw 22/1.

The 3-way handicap is set at six points, with Gloucester -6 priced at 20/21.

Gloucester -10 @ 6/4

The pair's four previous meetings have all gone the way of the home side, with Gloucester winning three of those at Kingsholm.

The Cherry and Whites should benefit again, with Castres coach Xavier Sadourny seemingly rotating as he plots his team's path through not just Europe, but the famously gruelling Top 14.

One thing Castres do have is forward power and Gloucester will look to avoid contact, or the game becoming too set-piece heavy, by moving the ball quickly through the hands of half-backs Tomos Williams and Ross Byrne.

Byrne, a summer recruit from Leinster, produced his best performance in the win over Harlequins and should thrive running an excellent back-line, also featuring Ollie Thorley, who marked his 150th appearance for the club against Quins by touching down.

Gloucester's fortunes so often hinge on their forwards' ability to get on top of their opponents, but they can gain parity and allow those in behind to secure a fourth win in a row.

Rugby Union Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.