6 Bold Predictions for Matchday 2 of the European Rugby Champions Cup

A list of thunderous encounters awaits us in the second week of the European Rugby Champions Cup.

An Anglo-Irish heavyweight clash in Limerick between Munster and Saracens will shape Pool 1, while two former winners face off in the West Country as Bath host Toulouse in Pool 4.

Plucky Sale, last-minute losers to Munster last weekend, head to the cacophonous fortress of Clermont Auvergne, while reigning champions Toulon take their 12-game winning streak in Europe to Ulster.

And in Northampton, the champions of England face what could already be an eliminator for them with the unbeaten Ospreys swooping in to prey on Saints fans’ nerves.

There isn’t a single game you can take you eye off this week or predict an outcome with any great confidence.

Let’s give it a go anyway.

1. Saracens to Beat Munster

There would have been a time when travelling to Thomond Park promised nothing other than a spanking from the home side.

But Saracens have reached the stage where this fixture does not hold the fear it once did for the Men in Black.

Having reached the final last year and the semi-final the year before that, as well as reaching the last two Premiership finals, Mark McCall’s men have the right to declare themselves heavyweights in the context of the current European order of power—far more so than when they lost to Munster in the 2008 semi–final, which you can revisit above.

Munster, though appearing to be on the wane, made it as far as the last four in 2014 and still have the ability to beat any side on their day.

But Saracens have so few chinks in their armour these days and can jump into the trenches for a bit of hand–to–hand combat just as comfortably as they can spray the ball wide to their potent finishers.

Munster started poorly against Sale, allowing their hard–running backs to punch holes all too easily in midfield. They were staring down the barrel at half–time with a 23-7 deficit to chip away at.

That they did so was just another layer of miraculous history set down in the annals of their fairytale relationship with European club rugby.

But such a comeback will be unlikely against a side with Sarries’ muscle up front and brains behind. We’re taking the Englishmen to stifle this one and take a grip on the pool.

2. Ulster to Beat Toulon

Ulster were punished for a poor 40 minutes last week, and despite their second-half recovery, they could not rip the result away from a dogged Leicester.

Neil Doak’s side can take on an unstoppable aura in front of their own fans, however.

They have run right over big-name sides in this tournament on their own patch, and the gates of their remodeled ground are adorned with illustrious scalps.

Think back to Leicester in 2004 and that 33-0 win, per BBC.co.uk, then again in 2011 when they romped at home 41-7 (shown above).

Then add the 30-3 demolition of Toulouse in 2006, per The Telegraph.

Toulon have not been at their best very often this season. Beaten by three other top-half sides in Stade Francais, Toulouse and Racing Metro, they did just enough against the Scarlets to open their 2014/15 European account and have a proud 12–game winning run in Europe to boast.

But we’re taking a combination of the Ravenhill roar and a fired–up Ulster side determined to make a fast start this week to be enough to end that sequence and blow Pool 3 wide open.

3. Toulouse to Beat Bath

Bath have faltered in recent weeks, losing a curious match to Wasps before being comprehensively wiped out by a highly motivated Glasgow Warriors side.

Toulouse had a nightmare start to their season but appear to have turned the corner with wins over Toulouse and Montpellier propelling them into this meeting at the Rec.

Bath’s impressive back line has been given license to play this season when the pack has done a demolition job on the opposition.

But it’s hard to see Bath doing that against this Toulouse mob, who have allied their traditional strength to the adventurous spirit that accents the play of Corey Flynn and the evergreen Imanol Harinordoquy.

Outside them, Luke McAlister is starting to provide plenty of creative inspiration to the likes of Gael Fickou, Yoann Huget and Co. to get their wonderful offloading game going.

This game looks to be all about confidence, and it’s clear who has more of that coming into it.

For inspiration, Bath can look to 2008 and their near miss in Toulouse, revisited in the video above.

4. Saints to Beat Ospreys

Michael Steele/Getty Images

After just 80 minutes of their campaign, it is do-or-die for Northampton this week.

They have nothing in the bank after an infuriating night’s work in Paris against Racing Metro.

In contrast, Ospreys blew past Treviso with a bonus point win. But these two were drawn together last season, and the Saints did the double.

On that form guide, the Welshmen would not regard a losing bonus in the East Midlands as a disastrous weekend.

They have been dealt a blow with the loss of No. 8 Dan Baker, however, and this is their first true test this term after a sympathetic opening-fixture schedule in the PRO12.

The Saints at Franklin's Gardens can flatten teams before they even get their bearings, as they did to Sale in their last home outing.

A performance of that intensity is what is required, and we’re backing Jim Mallinder’s men to produce it.

5. Leicester to Beat Scarlets

A raw-boned afternoon at the City Ground over 10 years ago is etched in European rugby folklore.

On that day, Tim Stimpson somehow found the legs to send a 58–metre penalty toppling over the woodwork, off both post and bar to send the Tigers through to the final at the expense of the men from Llanelli.

Since then, Leicester have won two European crowns and reached the final of another. The Welsh region has never seen the last four since.

The overall record between the two in Europe stands at six wins, one loss for the East Midland giants.

We’re punting on Richard Cockerill’s boys to improve that record and make it 2-of-2 in this campaign.

6. Wasps to Beat Quins

Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images

Wasps and Quins have had undulating starts to their domestic campaigns.

Dai Young’s side came close to a famous upset over Leinster last week but faded in the second 40 minutes to concede the contest to the three–time champions.

Quins beat out–of–sorts Castres with a single try but plenty to spare. Both sides have the players out wide to make this an entertaining contest, but it’s in the form of their packs that Wasps start to emerge as favourites.

Matt Mullen at loose–head prop for Wasps is threatening to usurp Joe Marler, the Quins skipper, for the England No. 1 jersey, while the industry and sheer aggression provided by James Haskell and Ashley Johnson in the back row is a heady combination.

With Andy Goode pulling the strings and Super 15 import Alapati Leiua capable of ripping teams apart in the middle, Wasps look more sure of themselves than a Quins outfit that is struggling for direction without the leadership of Chris Robshaw. Furthermore, Mike Brown is not quite striking the same high notes he was every week last season.

Wasps to win.