17:15 Toulon v Bath (Stade Felix Mayol)
AI Grote: Toulon 29 – 24 Bath
Rob (OuGrote): Toulon by 5
James (OuGrote): Toulon by 7
Rugby4Cast: Toulon 63%
Bath bring form and confidence, but Toulon at the Stade Mayol are a different beast — physical, confrontational, and backed by one of Europe’s most intense home atmospheres. Bath’s structured attack will challenge Toulon early, yet the hosts’ power game and bench impact should tilt the contest their way late on.
15:00 Castres v Edinburgh (Stade Pierre-Fabre)
AI Grote: Edinburgh 25 – 23 Castres
Rob (OuGrote): Edinburgh by 3
James (OuGrote): Edinburgh by 5
Rugby4Cast: Edinburgh 50%
Castres are typically formidable at home, where their physical pack, strong maul, and territorial discipline tend to dictate the tempo. Edinburgh can threaten with width and smart phase play, but Castres’ home intensity and set-piece edge should be enough to close out a tight, hard-fought match.
03 January 2026
15:30 Sharks v Emirates Lions (Kings Park)
Sharks 60 %
Sharks at home are tough; Lions are strong visitors but I’ll give home side the nod.
18:00 DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls (DHL Stadium)
Stormers 55 %
South African derby — Stormers home crowd and good recent form works in their favour.
19:30 Benetton v Edinburgh (Stadio Monigo)
Edinburgh 60 %
Edinburgh have more stable form; Benetton at home narrows it but not enough to flip.
19:30 Leinster v Connacht (TBC)
Leinster 70 %
Leinster historically dominate; home advantage and squad quality push them well ahead.
21:45 Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma (Scotstoun Stadium)
Glasgow 80 %
Glasgow should handle this fairly comfortably; Zebre are among the weakest sides in away matches.
15:00 Harlequins v Bayonne (The Stoop)
AI Grote: Harlequins 31 – 15 Bayonne
Rob (OuGrote): Harlequins by 16
James (OuGrote): Harlequins by 12
Rugby4Cast: Harlequins 84%
At the Stoop, Harlequins’ high-tempo attack and offloading game should stretch Bayonne throughout. Bayonne bring physicality and set-piece strength, but Quins’ creativity, home advantage, and superior backline cohesion are likely to produce more scoring moments and secure a comfortable win.
22:00 Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse (Scotstoun Stadium)
AI Grote: Glasgow 18 – 30 Toulouse
Rob (OuGrote): Toulouse by 10
James (OuGrote): Toulouse by 12
Rugby4Cast: Toulouse 71%
Glasgow will bring tempo and ambition at home, but Toulouse’s world-class halfbacks, power in the carry, and ability to punish small errors should prove decisive. Expect an entertaining, high-skill contest, but Toulouse’s depth and finishing quality give them the edge.
19:30 Munster v Gloucester (Pairc Ui Chaoimh)
AI Grote: Munster 27 – 18 Gloucester
Rob (OuGrote): Munster by 7
James (OuGrote): Munster by 5
Rugby4Cast: Munster 77%
Munster at Thomond Park are notoriously difficult to beat, especially in Europe. Their defensive steel, structured attack, and breakdown pressure should control the match. Gloucester can threaten with bursts of creativity, but Munster’s discipline and home intensity are likely to secure a decisive victory.
19:30 Bordeaux-Bègles v Scarlets (Stade Chaban-Delmas)
AI Grote: Bordeaux 35 – 12 Scarlets
Rob (OuGrote): Bordeaux by 18
James (OuGrote): Bordeaux by 17
Rugby4Cast: Bordeaux 89%
At home, Bordeaux-Bègles’ pace and flair — especially out wide — should unsettle Scarlets’ defensive structure. Scarlets will compete hard and try to strike on turnovers, but Bordeaux’s attacking creativity and home-crowd momentum give them the edge in a tight contest.
17:15 Clermont Auvergne v Sale Sharks (Stade Marcel-Michelin)
AI Grote: Clermont 32 – 22 Sale
Rob (OuGrote): Clermont by 10
James (OuGrote): Clermont by 8
Rugby4Cast: Clermont 77%
At home, Clermont’s forward pack and maul dominance should outweigh Sale’s counter-attack threat. Sale may snag a couple of tries from turnovers, but Clermont’s disciplined set-piece, territorial kicking, and home crowd will carry them to a fairly comfortable win.
17:15 Sharks v Saracens (Kings Park)
AI Grote: Sharks 22 – 24 Saracens
Rob (OuGrote): Saracens by 10
James (OuGrote): Saracens by 12
Rugby4Cast: Saracens 54%
Sharks at home will fight hard, but Saracens’ defensive discipline and set-piece dominance should make the difference. Their experience, tactical kicking, and ability to control territory and phases give them the edge over a Sharks team that may struggle to contain structured pressure.
15:00 Stormers v La Rochelle (Nelson Mandela Bay)
AI Grote: Stormers 24 – 26 La Rochelle
Rob (OuGrote): Stormers by 7
James (OuGrote): Stormers by 11
Rugby4Cast: La Rochelle 60%
Stormers’ physical pack and home-ground energy will set a brutal tempo. La Rochelle are slick in attack, but Stormers’ territorial kicking, breakdown pressure, and South-African forward power should blunt that edge and secure a narrow but deserved win.
