Connacht Rugby vs Union Bordeaux Begles Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions Cup

Prediction published on 06/12/2023, 12:45  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 08/12/2023 at 07:00 in Champions Cup Prediction

The eagerly-awaited European Rugby Champions Cup will get underway this week, with Connacht taking on the Bordeaux Begles. The match will be played at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday, December 8. The hosts reached the last 16 of the Challange Cup last season, while the visitors failed to get past the pool stages in this competition. Connacht come into this match following a narrow 24-22 defeat to Jacques Nienaber’s Lenister in the United Rugby Championship last weekend. That was their third loss in four matches in this season’s URC, though the bonus point took them to 19 points, four points behind Munster in fourth place. Barring last week's defeat, the hosts have been very good at home this season, with eight wins in their last nine games. These sides were drawn against each other back in the 2018-19 season, and Connacht won home and away. 

Bordeaux, on the other hand, moved to seventh place in the top 14 last weekend. They beat Oyonnax 29-23 to snap up a five-match losing streak on the road. The Begles had a very poor campaign last year when they finished second bottom of their pool. They failed to win any of their four matches against the Sharks and Gloucester and only managed to get on the board with two bonus points. However, having won back-to-back matches leading up to this one, the visitors will have some confidence behind them. In addition, Bordeaux have also bolstered their squad this season with the additions of Damian Penaud and France international fly-half Matthieu Jalibert.