Leinster vs Stade Francais Prediction: Home side set for big win

The European Rugby Champions Cup takes centre stage this weekend, with Stade Francais' trip to Leinster just one of eight games taking place on Saturday.

The two sides last faced each other back in 2013, with the Irish side running out comfortable winners by a 34-13 scoreline.

Leinster suffered only their second United Rugby Championship defeat of the season last time out against Ulster, losing by one point in a 22-21 result.

Stade are third in the French Top 14 and picked up a rare draw in their last game, a 14-14 tie at home to Clermont.

Team News

Leinster have made seven personnel changes for this game, including the return of captain Garry Ringrose to the centres as he replaces Liam Turner.

Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour and James Lowe come into the back three for Rob Russell and the benched duo of Tommy O'Brien, while Ciaran Fawley moves up from full-back to fly-half, replacing Sam Prendergast.

The front row sees props Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter introduced, with Cian Healy dropping to the bench and Tom Clarkson omitted from the matchday squad, and there is also a change at openside flanker as Will Connors makes way for Josh van der Flier.

Stade have rung the changes, with 10 new faces entering the starting XV, with their selection suggesting they already have one eye on Stormers' trip to Paris in their final Pool 4 outing next Saturday.

Club captain Paul Gabrillagues joins Paul Alo-Emile on the bench, while fellow forwards Sergo Abramishvili, Mickael Ivaldi, Tanginoa Halaifonua and Romain Briatte are dropped from the matchday squad.

Clement Castets, Lucas Peyresblanques, Hugo N'Diaye, Pierre-Henri Azagoh, Ryan Chapuis and Giovanni Haben-Kuffner all come in, while Mathieu Hirigoyen, who takes the captaincy for Saturday's game, moves from number eight to blindside flanker.

The back-line also has a fresh feel to it, with the introductions of Noah Nene, Stephane Ahmed, Peniasi Dakuwaqa and Leo Monin, while Kylan Hamdaoui makes the positional change from right wing to left wing.

Lester Etien, Jeremy Ward, Joe Marchant and Leo Parre all miss out.

Match Odds:

Leinster are heavy favourites to win, with a -33 handicap providing odds of 10/11, while Stade Francais can be backed at 20/1 to shock the Irish side.

A tie gives odds of 25/1, and a Leinster victory by no more than five points is at 40/1.

Leinster win by 21 - 25 points @ 13/2

Just the one selection for this one but it is at a big price.

Defeat to Ulster on New Year's Day put an end to Leinster's nine-game winning streak, which had helped propel them to the top of the standings in both the URC and Pool 4 of the Champions Cup.

Victories over La Rochelle and Sale Sharks in the previous games in this tournament has set them up nicely in Europe and they should feel confident of returning to winning ways against a Stade side that have struggled on the road.

Stade have won just one of their last five away games in all competitions, and each of their four losses has seen the side fail to register double-digit points.

With another heavily altered starting line-up, the French outfit may struggle to break through this dominant Leinster side, and a comfortable win could be in store for coach Leo Cullen's men.

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