Europe - Champions Cup
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Stade Rochelais vs Exeter RC Chiefs Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions Cup
by Devesh Jaganath | in Champions Cup Predictions
The second semi-final of the Heineken Champions Cup between La Rochelle and the Exeter Chiefs is set to be played out at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on Sunday evening, with the winners moving on to the final to face either Leinster or Toulouse, who will battle out the other semi-final. The defending champions La Rochelle were incredible once again this year, qualifying for the knockout stages in pole position from Pool B and unbeaten in their four group-stage matches. The hosts made their home-field advantage count in the knockout rounds, beating Gloucester 29-26 and Saracens 24-10 in the quarter-final. La Rochelle’s greatest strength has been in defense in this tournament, and it was on display yet again in the quarter-final, with the big men putting in a massive shift on the gain line and smashing rucks which caused their opponents to give up as many as 18 penalties. Two tries from Tawera Kerr-Barlow were enough to sew up the victory for the hosts, and they now set their sights on a very different type of opponent that has gotten the better of them in the past.
Meanwhile, Exeter finished second in Pool A, behind Leinster, but were arguably the pick of the sides in the quarter-final, where they put on one of their best performances of the season to send the South African franchise side, the Stormers, packing. Tom Wyatt, Jack Nowell, and Olly Woodburn were all on the scoresheet before the half-time whistle, while the Stormers barely had a sniff and went into the break 21-0 down. The South African side did have a much better second half, but they were no match for the might of the English side, who went on to seal the game 42-17 in the end. Exeter will come into this match as the underdogs, but that has been a title that they seem to relish in recent years, knowing that they have the class in their ranks to beat any team on their day, as they showed over two consecutive weekends against star-studded sides in both the Stormers and Montpellier. The visitors have gotten the better of this opponent convincingly in their last two meetings and will be quietly confident that they can make it three from three in this one.
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Stade Rochelais vs Exeter RC Chiefs Form
Stade Rochelais and Exeter RC Chiefs Last Matches
6/6 (100%)
0/6 (0%)
0/6 (0%)
22 Apr 2023 - Top 14
15 Apr 2023 - Top 14
9 Apr 2023 - Champions Cup
1 Apr 2023 - Champions Cup
25 Mar 2023 - Top 14
4 Mar 2023 - Top 14
5/6 (83%)
0/6 (0%)
1/6 (17%)
22 Apr 2023 - Top 14
15 Apr 2023 - Top 14
9 Apr 2023 - Champions Cup
1 Apr 2023 - Champions Cup
25 Feb 2023 - Top 14
4 Feb 2023 - Top 14
5/6 (83%)
0/6 (0%)
1/6 (17%)
25 Mar 2023 - Top 14
4 Mar 2023 - Top 14
18 Feb 2023 - Top 14
28 Jan 2023 - Top 14
21 Jan 2023 - Champions Cup
31 Dec 2022 - Top 14
4/5 (80%)
1/5 (20%)
0/5 (0%)
8 Apr 2023 - Champions Cup
2 Apr 2023 - Champions Cup
21 Jan 2023 - Champions Cup
10 Dec 2022 - Champions Cup
14 Feb 2020 - English Premiership Rugby
2/3 (67%)
1/3 (33%)
0/3 (0%)
8 Apr 2023 - Champions Cup
2 Apr 2023 - Champions Cup
21 Jan 2023 - Champions Cup
2/2 (100%)
0/2 (0%)
0/2 (0%)
10 Dec 2022 - Champions Cup
14 Feb 2020 - English Premiership Rugby
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Stade Rochelais - Exeter RC Chiefs Key Points
- Exeter has beaten this opposition in their last two encounters
- Exeter has scored two or more tries in each of their last 6 matches in this competition
- Four of La Rochelle’s last six wins in this tournament were by a deficit of fewer than 12 points
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Our Stade Rochelais vs Exeter RC Chiefs Prediction
La Rochelle are the outright favourites for this one, and what we are likely to see here is a perfect illustration of attack versus defense, with the speed of the English team against the physicality of the French. The hosts have proven to be a difficult side to break down this year, and while they may well go on to win this one, the visitors will trade blows with them as they have done in the past. We expect this one to be separated by a fairly small margin in the end. Therefore, our La Rochelle v Exeter Chiefs prediction is on the handicap market for Exeter Chiefs +12.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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