La Rochelle vs Bristol Prediction: Bears to leave France empty-handed

Bristol Bears face a mighty challenge in the European Champions Cup on Saturday night (8pm, Premier Sports 1) when they face two-time winners La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

Alex Jack provides his best bets for La Rochelle vs Bristol as well as all the important team news and match odds.

Rugby Union Odds

Team News

La Rochelle are certainly not messing around with their selection for this weekend’s game.

Reda Wardi, Tolu Latu and Uini Atonio make up the sizeable front-row, with man-mountains Kane Douglas and Will Skelton in the second-row.

Oscar Jegou, Matthias Haddad and skipper Gregory Alldritt make up the back-row, with Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Ihaia West in the half-backs.

There are threats through the remainder of the backline, with Jonathan Danty and Ulupano Seuteni in the centres, along with a back-three of Teddy Thomas, former England winger Jack Nowell and Dillyn Leyds.

As for Bristol, Red Rose prop Ellis Genge, Gabriel Oghre and Lovejoy Chawatama get the nod in the front-row, with Steven Luatua and Joe Owen in the engine room.

Santiago Grondona, Jake Heenan and Viliame Mata form the back-row, with Harry Randall and Sam Worsley in the half-backs.

Kalaveti Ravouvou and Benhard Janse van Rensburg are the starting centres, while Gabriel Ibitoye, Jack Bates and Benjamin Elizalde complete the backline for the Bears.

European Rugby Champions Cup Odds

Match Odds

La Rochelle are understandably the overwhelming favourites at 1/25 to come out on top on home soil, while Bristol are 9/1 to leave the Stade Marcel-Deflandre on the back of what would be a famous win over the two-time European champions.

A draw on the night on the west coast of France is available at odds of 28/1.

La Rochelle -20 handicap @ 21/20

A European night under the lights at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre against a full-strength La Rochelle side is about as tough as it gets for Bristol this week.

This home XV is packed with power in the forwards, while there’s international talent throughout the backline.

The Bears have impressed in the Premiership this season, but this really is a step up to almost Test match level which some of these Bristol players simply won’t be used to.

Head coach Ronan O’Gara will have done his research on Bristol and how his side can go about exploiting any weaknesses in Pat Lam’s side this weekend.

If Top 14 outfit La Rochelle can hit the ground running in this game, it might well be a long night for the Bears.

With that in mind, look to the hosts to win and cover the -20 handicap in the process at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre in this one.

Rugby Union Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.