Leinster Rugby vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Preview
This weekend the second round of the European Rugby Champions Cup takes place. First and second place in Pool Two face off as Clermont travels to Leinster. Kick-off is this Saturday, December 14 at 5:30 pm.
Leinster welcomes Clermont to Dublin for a thrilling ERCC fixture. The Irish giants dispatched the Bristol Bears in a game with four yellow cards. Leinster picked up two in two minutes but triumphed in the second half to a much-needed win on the road. Clermont faced another URC side in Benetton at the Stade Marcel-Michelin. The French side obliterated the Italians 28-0 and will fancy their chances against last year’s finalists.
Leinster Rugby vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Predictions
Score Prediction: Leinster 36-16 Clermont
Clermont enters this fixture as the third-best side in the France Top 14 and the best team in the group on point difference. Leinster hopes to change this with another crushing performance in front of their home fans. Our rugby prediction is for Leinster to win by 20 points or more in this exciting clash.
Looking at recent form, Clermont enters this week with four wins in a row. They have won seven of their last ten including matches against Bordeaux, Bayonne, and Castres. The French side has lost four fixtures in the league this season and sit seven points off league leaders and current champions Toulouse.
Leinster could be a step too far for the in-form French team. The Irish side is top of the URC and is yet to taste defeat this season. The last time Leinster lost a game was against the Bulls in June. That means they enter this week on the back of eight consecutive wins. Plus, they were the runners-up after suffering a nine-point defeat in Toulouse in the ERCC final last year.
This points to a fantastic game on Saturday as both teams enter this round in good form. Clermont is a menace from the lineout. They are fantastic at getting into the maul, disguising where the ball carrier is, and wreaking havoc on the defence. They will have to battle hard to get to the Irish 22, but from there, the home side must be squeaky clean or face a tough night in Dublin.
Leinster made life tricky for themselves in the first half against Bristol. They picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to see out the final ten minutes with 13 players. However, great sides always find a way and went in at halftime level on points with the Bears. A Sam Prendergast masterclass followed with two scores and a magical performance. If he starts against Clermont, the French side must ensure he gets no time on the ball.
This will be an exciting rugby game, as two different styles clash in the RDS Arena. Leinster has an array of talented players with quick hands and powerful carries. Clermont is less able to get the ball up the field with speed, but they can punish you from lineouts and other deadball scenarios. There is no doubt Leinster’s attacking threat alone is enough to power over the line, but they must defend valiantly to keep Clermont away from a potential upset.
Our prediction is for a close opening to the game before Leinster powers ahead thanks to the attacking talent on the books. The chances for Clermont will dry up in the second half and they must be clinical about the few opportunities they get. If not, then this scoreline could be much higher than we predict. Anyone betting on the ERCC this week should expect a blistering approach from Leinster.
Leinster Rugby vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Betting Tips
This week is the second round of European Rugby Champions Cup fixtures. The format of the competition means there are four rounds in the group stage, with the next two fixtures coming in January. Teams from the same division will not face off, meaning Leinster will not have the pleasure of facing Benetton. Anyone betting on rugby matches this weekend has plenty to consider before this match.
Match Result
According to our online sports betting platform, there is only one team with a chance of winning this game. Leinster are 1/100 on Saturday and you will struggle to find a more heavily tilted favourite in any sport this weekend, as a €10 bet returns €10.10. This wager is not worth considering as you stand to make a small profit percentage.
Betting on Clermont seems an unlikely move as well as they are 11/1 underdogs. A similar size bet on ASM Clermont Auvergne yields €120. An outright prediction of the winner of this rugby union match is not worthwhile. Instead, there are other markets which offer better returns.
Handicap
When two teams are on completely different ends of the spectrum, a handicap bet becomes a valuable option. This market will reduce the gap between the teams, effectively neutralising the Leinster advantage.
Our score prediction is for there to be 20 points between the teams at the final whistle. Choosing the Leinster -18.5 handicap worth 2/5 will give you €14 from a ten-euro bet. You could secure even greater returns if you chose a market with a larger handicap. However, in games like these, it is worth taking a punt with the underdog. ASM Clermont Auvergne +18.5 is worth 9/5. A €10 bet will give players €18 in profit, making it a valuable market if you think the score will be closer than the bookies suggest.
Winning Margin
Betting on Leinster to win this game is the most likely option, and you can extend those odds if you are specific with prediction. Backing Leinster to win by 15 points or more is worth 2/13 at Novibet. Anyone who thinks Clermont can hang in there should look at the Leinster to win by 8 to 14 points. This option is worth 18/5, which returns €46 from a ten-euro stake. There is no point in betting on the winning margin for ASM Clermont Auvergne in this fixture.
Leinster Rugby vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Head-To-Head and Key Stats
If you are looking at the previous meetings between Leinster and ASM Clermont Auvergne, there have been seven since 2010. Surprisingly, Clermont has the upper hand in these previous meetings, winning the last three in a row. Unfortunately for any French fans, these victories came in 2012 and were the most recent in 2017. That game was in the semifinal of the ERCC and Clermont won 27-22.
A lot has changed since the last time these teams faced off, so let’s examine how the teams have been performing as of late. Clermont hosted Benetton in the previous round of the European Rugby Champions Cup. They annihilated the Italians in the first half after an early yellow card to Sebastian Negri. It was 21-0 at the break and the Italians struggled to make any inroads. The second half was better from a Benetton perspective, as ASM Clermont Auvergne only scored one more try. A late yellow card to Alivereti Raka meant little as it finished 28-0.
Clermont won three recent matches in the Top 14 against Castres, Lyon, and Bordeaux. They have suffered three defeats in their last ten games, but each loss was a one-sided contest. They lost 36-6 in Paris at the end of October. Before that came a blistering defeat to current champions, Toulouse. That game finished 48-14 and was once again on the road. The other recent defeat was at the hands of USAP in another one-sided affair, finishing 33-3.
📊 | The match stats from our bonus point 35-12 win over Bristol Bears, courtesy of @LayaHealthcare. #ABeatAhead #BRIvLEI #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/laCvo8j7Gw
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 8, 2024
Clermont can struggle on the road, and if we see that side of the French team this weekend, there could be a 30 or even 40-point margin between the teams. It could be worthwhile to wait until the game kicks off before placing a wager. Live betting in this fixture might help you avoid a risky bet on Saturday.
Leinster declawed the Bears last weekend. Even with two early yellow cards for the travelling side, they breezed past the team from Bristol. A tight first half finished 7-7 and the game changed after a sin bin for both teams eight minutes after the restart. Sam Pendergast finally found some space and put in a virtuoso performance. Pendergast, alongside Josh van der Flier, turned the game around for the visitors and they stormed to a 28-point lead. A late consolation score from the Bears meant it finished 12-35. A bad day at the office for Pat Lam.
That match was a genuine worry for URC fans as Leinster looked lethal. Even though several key players were missing thanks to the last game of the Autumn Nations Series, the team from Dublin was incredible. Leinster has won every game this season, but some performances had unconvincing moments. However, these minor gripes now mean little if Leinster can continue this form. They have already dispatched Munster, Connacht, and Ulster this season and look certain to demolish Clermont on the 14th.
