Union Bordeaux Begles vs Clermont Prediction & Betting Tips - Top 14

Prediction published on 19/04/2024, 15:05  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 20/04/2024 at 12:31 in Rugby Predictions

Bordeaux Begles will play host to Clermont Auvergne in week 22 of the Top 14 this Sunday. The hosts are currently in seventh place in the league standings, while the visitors are 11th. Bordeaux will come into this match following disappointment in the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final last week. They were pitted against Harlequins, and after 80 minutes of back-and-forth action, the English outfit emerged victorious by a single point. However, Bordeaux had a chance to win the match late on after Madosh Tambwe’s try brought the score to 42-41, but a missed conversion ultimately decided the outcome. The Begles will now return to domestic league, where they are on 49 points after 20 games, including five bonus points. Their last match in this competition ended in a 27-10 defeat against Lyon, though they did win their two preceding home games which sees them enter this one as the bookmakers' favourite. 

In contrast, Clermont Auvergne come into this match having won their European quarter-final clash last week, albeit in the EPCR Challenge Cup. They were up against Ulster at home and were far too good for the visitors, running out 53-14 winners with Peceli Yato and Pita Gus Sowakula scoring two tries each, while Joris Jurand, Rob Simmons and Alex Newsome bagged one apiece. However, they will need to bring the same type of form to the domestic competition, where they have only managed 42 points in 20 games and lost their last match 26-10 to Racing 92 at the end of last month. On the road, Clermont are looking to end a three-match losing streak, including defeats to La Rochelle and Bayonne dating back to mid-February. The visitors lost the reverse fixture 40-35 and are winless in their last three against this opponent.