Predictions: Champions Cup and Challenge Cup

Round Four of the Champions Cup throws up some mouth-watering fixtures on Saturday and Sunday and we are putting our head on the block to pick our winners.

We have taken a more in-depth look at two of the games which will be crucial to qualification from the respective pools, with Castres v Munster and Newcastle Falcons v Edinburgh.

The Challenge Cup also takes place and we have predicted the outcome of the contests from Europe’s second-tier competition.

CHAMPIONS CUP

Castres v Munster

It was ultimately a disappointing performance by Castres in Round Three after succumbing to Munster 30-5 and leaving themselves with an uphill task to qualify from Pool 2.

Christophe Urios’ men reside six points behind the Irish province in the group but will close the gap with a victory and certainly have the players to do so. They are the defending Top 14 champions and surely won’t be as poor as they were last weekend.

Although Johann van Graan’s charges will be prepared for the expected backlash, they will struggle if the team fails the stop the powerful Maama Vaipulu and Mathieu Babillot on the gain line. With Rory Kockott back at scrum-half, Castres should have a bit more control and accuracy from the base of the ruck, so we are going Castres by 4.

Newcastle Falcons v Edinburgh

Maybe not the standout teams on paper, but this is possibly the most crucial game of the weekend as Newcastle prepare to face Edinburgh.

As has been Dean Richards’ wont so far in the competition, the Falcons’ director of rugby has rotated his squad throughout the tournament, and that led to a heavy defeat at the hands of the Scottish outfit last weekend.

While the crisis at prop was beyond his control, Richards still rested his first choice backline for the Round Three encounter and was duly punished. Vereniki Goneva, Sinoti Sinoti and Toby Flood have all returned, however, and they will be a different proposition at Kingston Park. Newcastle by 5.

Other Champions Cup games:

Glasgow Warriors v Lyon: Glasgow by 18
Cardiff Blues v Saracens: Saracens by 10
Toulouse v Wasps: Toulouse by 21
Leinster v Bath: Leinster by 24
Leicester v Racing 92: Leicester by 5
Montpellier v Toulon: Montpellier by 7

CHALLENGE CUP

Timisoara Saracens v Northampton Saints: Northampton by 25
Clermont Auvergne v Dragons: Clermont by 45
Harlequins v Benetton: Harlequins by 15
Sale v Bordeaux-Begles: Sale by 23
Worcester Warriors v Pau: Worcester by 5
Zebre v Enisei-STM: Zebre by 30
La Rochelle v Bristol: La Rochelle by 20