Section Paloise vs Connacht Rugby Prediction & Betting Tips - Challenge Cup

Prediction published on 06/04/2024, 08:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 06/04/2024 at 08:04 in Challenge Cup Predictions

The final match in the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup will see Section Paloise playing host to Connacht Rugby at Stade du Hameau on Sunday afternoon. Pau secured three victories in the Challenge Cup, earning a second-place finish in the group standings. Unlike the URC, the French Top 14 league has been more active during the Six Nations period. However, this increased game time hasn't been advantageous for the French side, as they suffered three defeats in their last four matches. Their sole recent victory was achieved at home a month ago. Notably, all three of Pau's recent losses were away from home, which may pose a challenge for Connacht. Despite losing their last two matches, Pau only narrowly fell short by two and three points, scoring 28 and 29 points, respectively. Their previous win saw a high-scoring game with 82 points in total. In light of New Zealand legend Sam Whitelock's retirement announcement, Pau's head coach, Sebastien Piqueronies, has urged his team to deliver a fitting tribute in his honor during their upcoming fixture.

Connacht enters their last 16 match against Pau on the heels of a disappointing Champions Cup campaign, where they managed only one victory in the pool stage, leading to their elimination from the competition. Initially considered a surprise contender in the URC competition, Connacht has struggled with consistency, evidenced by their recent back-to-back losses to Emirates Lions and Benetton. Following their Champions Cup exit, Connacht had several months to regroup, having finished fifth in Pool One. Despite their lackluster group stage performance, Connacht secured a spot in the lower tier of the competition with a lone victory against the Bristol Bears. While they are the underdogs here, the return of Ireland internationals Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham, along with scrum-half Caolin Blade recovering from injury, provides a boost for the visitors.