Lyon vs Connacht Prediction: A tough afternoon in store for the Westerners

Winless after the first two rounds of games in the European Champions Cup, things are not going to get any easier for Connacht as they prepare to travel to Lyon on Saturday.

Lyon currently find themselves in second place in Pool 1 and they will be confident of maintaining their strong home form when Connacht arrive at Stade Gerland

Team News

Starting with Lyon, they have gone with Hamza Kaabeche, Yanis Charcosset and Demba Bamba in a powerful front-row.

Man mountain Romain Taofifenua is partnered by Joel Kpoku in the second-row, with Liam Allen, Mickael Guillard and Arno Botha making up the remainder of the pack.

Former Ireland international Paddy Jackson starts at fly-half outside Martin Page-Relo, with Thibaut Regard and Josiah Maraku in the centres.

There is plenty of attacking threat in the back three, with Italian international Monty Iaone, Thaakir Abrahams and Alexandre Tchaptchet starting from the off.

As for the visitors, Connacht head coach Peter Wilkins has handed Michael McDonald his first start at scrum-half, with captain Jack Carty outside him at stand-off.

Ireland and British & Irish Lions centre Bundee Aki is unavailable so it’s Tom Daly and Tom Farrell who partner up in the middle of the backline.

Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin and Jack Aungier make up the front-row, while Darragh Murray and Joe Joyce are the starting locks.

Sean Jansen makes a welcome return from injury to start at number eight and is joined in the back-row by flankers Cian Prendergast and Jarrad Butler.

Match Odds

As expected, Lyon are the firm favourites to pick up their second win of the Champions Cup campaign this weekend at 2/7.

Connacht are available at 11/4 to spring a surprise at Stade Gerland, while a tie on Saturday is currently 20/1.

Lyon -10 handicap @ 5/4

Losing just one of their six games at home this season and winning the rest, Lyon are a formidable outfit on their own patch.

Connacht on the other hand have played five games away from home this season and have lost four of them.

The Westerners have found the step up in Champions Cup difficult this term, losing heavily in their first two games of the competition.

A 41-5 defeat on home soil at the hands of Bordeaux Begles, was followed by a 55-36 loss at Saracens in Round 2.

A leaky defence appears to be an issue for Connacht in Europe, with 96 points conceded in those first two games.

With that in mind, look to Lyon in the handicap market in this one, with a generous -10 points for the hosts on offer at 5/4.

Check out the rest of our Rugby Union Betting Tips here.