Ulster vs Racing 92 prediction: Ravenhill return could suit Ulster

Ulster and Racing 92 were both on the wrong end of their results in round one and will each look to ignite their Champions Cup campaigns with a win at 20:00 on Saturday evening.

Ulster went down 37-14 at Bath, but they return to Belfast aiming to put things right against Racing, who were arguably the victims of their own stadium, as Harlequins made the most of the quick surface under the roof at the Paris La Defense Arena to run riot and then hold on for a 31-28 victory,

Ravenhill might prove to be a touch trickier underfoot, and having triumphed 26-22 when the pair met at the Kingspan in January 2019, the hosts could sneak the victory again in this Pool 2 clash.

Match Odds

Ulster are 5/6 in the match betting, with Racing EVS and a tie on the night 20/1.

The hosts were the four-point winners the last time the side clashed at Ravenhill, and another victory by one to five points inclusive is 11/2.

Team News

Lock Iain Henderson will captain the side and lead a pack featuring returning hooker Rob Herring and flanker Nick Timoney.

Veteran scrum-half John Cooney is selected ahead of Nathan Doak to partner number 10 Billy Burns, while Mike Lowry is included after injury and starts at full-back.

Racing have selected South African World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi in the back-row, while Max Spring starts at full-back, meaning Henry Arundell moves to the wing, fresh from penning a long-term contract with the club.

The star-studded visitors also include the likes of centre Gael Fickou, highly-rated scrum-half Nolann le Garrec and forwards Cameron Woki, Will Rowlands and Trevor Nyakane.

Ulster -2.5 @ 11/10

Ulster lost their last home game 27-24 to Edinburgh and were sloppy throughout. James Hume's converted try in second-half stoppage time added respectability to that result, but their late show demonstrated how they usually go the distance in games at Ravenhill.

They had opened the season by beating Bulls, Munster and Lions at home and will be no strangers to the murky, albeit slightly milder, conditions forecasted for Saturday evening.

Bordeaux's win at Connacht and Bayonne's draw at Munster challenged the traditional view that Irish teams thrive at home and French sides struggle away.

However, Racing's two wins on the road this season have come across the city against Parisian rivals Stade Francais and away at a miserable Montpellier side.

They failed to win away from home in Europe last season, and although it is tough to anticipate the margin of victory based on how unpredictable the Parisians are on their travels, Ulster should be good enough to eclipse a -2.5 handicap.

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