Champions Cup
European Champions Cup Round 5 Predictions
We give our predictions on this weeks Champions Cup fixtures.

We’ve put together our predictions for scores and possible bonus points for Round 5 of the Champions Cup. We got 90% of results correct in Round 4. Can we go one better?
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Gloucester v Munster
It’s all to play for technically in Pool 2. The tightest group on paper. Munster top the pool on 12 points, Gloucester
Prediction – Munster Win (+12)
RESULT – Gloucester 15 – Munster 41 –
Prediction – Correct✅
Embed from Getty ImagesMontpellier v Newcastle
Montpellier will be looking for revenge after their loss to Newcastle in the
Prediction -Montpellier (+20) Bonus Point Win
RESULT – Montpellier 45 – Newcastle 8 –
Prediction – Correct✅
Embed from Getty ImagesLeinster v Toulouse
If this game is half as good as their first encounter this season, we’re in for a treat. Two teams that have been in scintillating form this season come head to head in Dublin. Toulouse pipped Leinster in France but we expect Leinster to take the spoils this weekend. Sexton will be a huge loss for Leinster but there is enough quality in the squad to see them take what we think will be a narrow victory.
Prediction – Leinster Win (+7)
RESULT – Leinster 29 – Toulouse 13 –
Prediction – Correct✅
Embed from Getty ImagesBath v Wasps
Both teams have little hope of progressing past the pool stages in this years competition but this dead rubber game could hopefully provide a platform for fringe players to gain some valuable European experience.
Prediction – Bath (+6) Both Team Try Bonus Points
RESULT – Bath 18- Wasps 16 –
Prediction – Correct✅
Embed from Getty ImagesUlster v Racing 92
On paper, this is a no brainer. Racing 92 should be firm favourites but 2 big factors come into play in this fixture. Ulster are typically very strong in Europe at home and the French don’t seem to like Belfast. Racing are in the driving seat to top the group and will remain that way even if they lose in Belfast however, Ulster’s chances of progressing further than the pools means a win is essential.
Prediction – Ulster Win (+9)
RESULT – Ulster 26 – Racing 22 –
Prediction – Correct✅
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Scarlets v Leicester Tigers
Another dead rubber game with both teams effectively out. Scarlets have injury issues everywhere. Welsh Hooker Ken Owens lines up at No.8 again after making the switch last week to assist with the Scarlet’s injury crisis. Leicester Tigers have experienced a reassurance of late and we expect them to get the win.
Prediction – Leicester Tigers Win (+9) Both teams, try bonus points
RESULT – Scarlets 33 – Leicester 10 –
Prediction – Wrong ❌
Embed from Getty ImagesToulon v Edinburgh
Toulon are out, Edinburgh are in the mix. Toulon have had a torrid season and the Stade Mayol is not the fortress it once was. They will probably still go into the game as the bookies favourite but we expect Edinburgh to nick a win.
Prediction – Edinburgh Win (+8)
RESULT – Toulon 17 – Edinburgh 28 –
Prediction – Correct✅
Embed from Getty ImagesExeter Chiefs v Castres
Exeter have named a strong lineup for the clash at Sandy Park and we can’t see anything but a home win this weekend.
Prediction – Exeter Win (+18) Try Bonus
RESULT – Exeter 34 – Castres 12 –
Prediction – Correct✅
Embed from Getty ImagesLyon v Saracens
Lyon are out. They sit bottom of the pool while Saracens will look to bounce back from their defeat against Sale last week to continue their unbeaten run in Europe. We expect this to go one way, Saracens.
Prediction – Saracens Win (+15) Try Bonus
RESULT – Lyon 10 – Saracens 28 –
Prediction – Correct✅
Embed from Getty ImagesGlasgow v Cardiff
Glasgow suffered a shock domestic loss last week to Benetton but their European hopes are still very much alive but a win is essential to keep their hopes alive and keep the pressure on Saracens. Glasgow to win comfortably.
Prediction – Glasgow Win (+13) Try Bonus
RESULT – Glasgow 33 – Cardiff 24 –
Prediction – Correct✅
This weeks prediction score – 9/10 (90%)
No bang on score predictions this week but stuck the neck out with bold calls on Edinburgh & Ulster victories over big French opposition.
90% for consecutive rounds for our Champions Cup score predictions. Check back next week to see if we can go one better!
Champions Cup
All You Need To Know | Toulouse v Munster


Munster face Toulouse at Stade Ernest-Wallon for just the second time at the weekend in the fourth and final Pool game of this year’s Champions Cup.
Both sides will be named before 12pm on Friday.
It will be a huge weekend of Champions Cup rugby, see the state of play in the competition here with all 12 teams in Munster’s Pool in with a shout of qualifying for the knock-out stages.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the game below.
Where?
Stade Ernest-Wallon
When?
Sunday, 3.15pm Irish time/4.15pm local
Broadcast
Live on BT Sport, France TV, beIN Sports, SuperSport & FloRugby.
Munster News
Did you know?
The sides have met nine times previously in the competition with Munster and Toulouse winning four times apiece. There was one draw in last year’s quarter-final with Toulouse winning the place-kicking competition to progress.
Gavin Coombes has scored four tries in three Champions Cup matches and is the joint leading try-scorer in the competition.
Munster have played at the Stade Ernest-Wallon twice previously. The first game was a 60-19 defeat to Toulouse in November 1996 and the second was a 27-24 victory over Castres Olympique in November 2011. Coincidentally, Munster’s win over Castres came a week after a win over Northampton at Thomond Park. Both victories were secured with last-minute Ronan O’Gara drop-goals.
Previous Meetings
November 1996
Champions Cup Pool Stage: Toulouse 60-19 Munster, Stade Ernest-Wallon;
May 2000
Champions Cup Semi-Final: Toulouse 25-31 Munster, Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux;
April 2003
Champions Cup Semi-Final: Toulouse 13-12 Munster, Stade Toulouse;
May 2008
Champions Cup Final: Munster 16-13 Toulouse, Millennium Stadium;
April 2014
Champions Cup Quarter-Final: Munster 47-23 Toulouse, Thomond Park;
April 2017
Champions Cup Quarter-Final: Munster 41-16 Toulouse, Thomond Park;
April 2021
Champions Cup Round of 16: Munster 33-40 Toulouse, Thomond Park (behind closed doors);
May 2022
Champions Cup Quarter-Final: Munster 24-24 Toulouse (Toulouse win place-kicking competition), Aviva Stadium;
December 2022
Champions Cup Pool Stage: Munster 13-18 Toulouse, Thomond Park;
Match Officials
Referee: Karl Dickson
AR1: Dan Jones
AR2: Phil Watters
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Tickets
URC Round 14
Friday, February 17, 2023
Munster Rugby v Ospreys, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 15
Friday, March 3, 2023
Munster Rugby v Scarlets, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Munster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Champions Cup
Disciplinary decisions

Cobus Wiese suspended for two weeks
The Sale Sharks second row, Cobus Wiese, has been suspended for two weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Stade Toulousain at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Wiese was sent off by the referee, Mike Adamson (Scotland), in the 18th minute of the match for a dangerous clear out on the Stade Toulousain prop, Dorian Aldegheri, in contravention of Law 9.20.
Law 9.20 Dangerous play in a ruck or maul
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.20 relating to dangerous play in a ruck or maul carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Rhian Williams (Wales), Chair, Mike Ross (Ireland) and Lawrence Sephaka (South Africa) considered video imagery of the incident and heard submissions from Wiese, who accepted the red card decision, from the Sale Sharks Director of Rugby, Alex Sanderson, from the Sale Sharks Team Manager, Scott Needham, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
Following submissions, the committee upheld the red card decision, but decided that the incident should be considered as being in contravention of Law 9.20 (b) which refers to dangerous play at a ruck or maul when a player makes contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.
Law 9.20 (b) A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.20 (b) carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 4 weeks; Top end: 8 to 52 weeks
It determined that Wiese entered the ruck dangerously making contact with Aldegheri above the line of the shoulders, that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions, and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
Due to the player’s good disciplinary record and his guilty plea, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a two-week suspension.
Wiese is free to play on Monday, 30 January 2023, however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 23 January 2023.
Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
Henry Slade red card dismissed
The Exeter Chiefs centre, Henry Slade, has had the red card which was issued to him during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against the Vodacom Bulls, dismissed following an independent Disciplinary Hearing.
Slade was sent off by the replacement referee, Thomas Charabas (France), in the 54th minute of the match at Loftus Versfeld for tackling the Vodacom Bulls full back, Kurt-Lee Arendse, in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.
Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent dangerously
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 relating to dangerous tackling carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Jennifer Donovan (Ireland), Chair, Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Yannick Jauzion (France) considered video imagery of the incident and heard evidence from Slade, who did not accept the red card decision, and heard submissions from the player’s legal representative, Richard Smith KC, from the Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee decided that while Slade had committed an act of foul play, it did not warrant a sending off. The red card decision was therefore dismissed and he is free to play.
EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
EPCR CHALLENGE CUP
Geoffrey Lanne-Petit suspended for five weeks and Section Paloise fined €25,000 (suspended)
The Section Paloise Attack Coach, Geoffrey Lanne-Petit, has been suspended for five weeks and Section Paloise have been handed a suspended €25,000 fine following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from the club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 1 match against the Toyota Cheetahs at Stade du Hameau.
EPCR brought a misconduct complaint against Lanne-Petit, who was alleged to have committed an act of misconduct in contravention of EPCR’s Disciplinary Rules by verbally abusing the Assistant Referee, Hollie Davidson (Scotland), following the conclusion of the match.
Also, EPCR brought a second misconduct complaint against Section Paloise who were alleged to have failed to control staff members, and/or persons connected to the club, following the conclusion of the match.
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Gareth Graham (England), Chair, David Humphreys (Ireland) and Donal Courtney (Ireland) heard evidence and submissions from Lanne-Petit, who accepted the misconduct charge, from the
Section Paloise President, Bernard Pontneau, from the Section Paloise legal representative, Benjamin Peyrelevade, from the Section Paloise Chief Executive, Pierre Lahore and from the Section Paloise Legal Manager, Marie Anglade.
The committee also heard evidence and submissions from the match Assistant Referee, Hollie Davidson, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee found that Lanne-Petit had committed an act of misconduct in that he verbally abused Hollie Davidson following the match and it was decided to suspend him for five weeks.
Lanne-Petit is therefore suspended from any match day contact with the Section Paloise playing squad, including, but not limited to, access to the Technical Zone, pitchside, dressing rooms, any team areas and team communications systems until midnight on Sunday, 26 February.
In addition, the committee found that Section Paloise were guilty of failing to control members of their coaching staff and persons connected to the club who disrespected the authority of the match officials following the conclusion of the match.
Section Paloise were fined €25,000 with the amount suspended until the end of the 2023/24 season which would only become payable if Section Paloise are found to have committed a further breach of EPCR’s Disciplinary Rules during that period.
Lanne-Petit, Section Paloise and EPCR have the right to appeal the decisions
Champions Cup
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Toulouse Trip


The Munster squad have started preparations ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup clash against Toulouse at a sold-out Stade Ernest-Wallon (3.15pm Irish time, live on BT Sport).
Due to the weather conditions, training has been moved to the main pitch at Thomond Park for this week.
Along with the squad members who were in Champions Cup action against Northampton on Saturday, there were 12 Munster players playing in the AIL for their clubs at the weekend.
Liam O’Connor helped Cork Constitution to a 32-27 victory over Dublin University.
Neil Cronin, Oli Morris, Tony Butler and Mark Donnelly featured for Garryowen in their 19-13 defeat to Clontarf with Morris scoring a try and Butler kicking a penalty.
Darragh McSweeney and Kieran Ryan were in action for Shannon as they were beaten 34-24 by Lansdowne.
Dan Goggin, Eoin O’Connor, Chris Moore, Patrick Campbell and Conor Phillips lined out for Young Munster as they fell to a 21-11 loss to Terenure College.
On the injury front, there is good news for Diarmuid Barron (shoulder) as he has returned to full team training.
Roman Salanoa was removed with an arm injury during the win over Northampton and will be managed by the medical department. His availability for Toulouse will be determined later in the week.
Jack Crowley is being managed following an ankle injury sustained against Northampton and his availability will also be determined later in the week.
Simon Zebo suffered a low-grade knee injury in training last week and is not available this week as he rehabilitates with the medical department. His injury is not expected to be long term.
Continuing to rehab: Jeremy Loughman (thigh), Tom Ahern (shoulder), RG Snyman (knee), Fineen Wycherley (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (head), Jack Daly (knee), Andrew Conway (knee), Keynan Knox (knee), Kiran McDonald (arm).
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