Author: Rob

Sunday 14 December

19:30 Bristol Bears v Section Paloise (Ashton Gate)

AI Grote: Bristol Bears 30 – 16 Section Paloise
Rob (OuGrote): Bristol by 14
James (OuGrote): Bristol by 11
Rugby4Cast: Bristol 80%

At Ashton Gate, Bristol’s high-tempo, ball-in-hand style should overwhelm Section Paloise. Paloise bring grit and set-piece strength, but they typically struggle defensively against teams that play expansively. Bristol’s creativity, home advantage, and superior backline cohesion point to a confident, multi-try victory.

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31 January 2026

14:30 Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls (Emirates Airline Park)
Bulls 60 %
Bulls have the strength, but away in South Africa there’s always room for the hosts to push.

17:00 Sharks v DHL Stormers (Kings Park)
Sharks 55 %
South African rivalry—Sharks at home get a slight edge, though Stormers are dangerous visitors.

15:00 Zebre Parma v Connacht (Stadio Lanfranchi)
Connacht 70 %
Connacht are expected to dominate against one of the weaker sides.

19:30 Leinster v Edinburgh (TBC)
Leinster 75 %
Leinster are strong favourites at home, particularly over touring Scottish sides.

21:45 Ospreys v Dragons (Dunraven Brewery Field)
Ospreys 65 %
Welsh derby; Ospreys have been more consistent, giving them the lean.

21:45 Ulster v Cardiff (Ulster Rugby Stadium)
Ulster 60 %
Ulster home usually gives a moderate edge; Cardiff’s road form is less reliable.

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24 January 2026

17:00 Scarlets v Ulster (Parc Y Scarlets)
Ulster 55 %
Ulster have the stronger squad overall; Scarlets’ home edge narrows it, so I lean Ulster but not massively.

19:30 Connacht v Leinster (Dexcom Stadium)
Leinster 75 %
Leinster are often heavy favourites in these Irish derbies, especially away matches.

19:30 DHL Stormers v Sharks (DHL Stadium)
Stormers 60 %
South African domestic – Stormers’ home strength gives them an edge, though Sharks are dangerous.

21:45 Zebre Parma v Glasgow Warriors (Stadio Lanfranchi)
Glasgow 80 %
Glasgow should dominate this fixture; Zebre are among the weaker sides, especially at home.

21:45 Cardiff v Benetton (Cardiff Arms Park)
Benetton 60 %
Benetton have shown more consistency; Cardiff at home helps, but lean to Benetton.

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27 December 2025

16:30 Zebre Parma v Benetton (Stadio Lanfranchi)
Benetton 75 %
Benetton are clearly stronger—this is one of the safer picks.

17:00 Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors (Scottish Gas Murrayfield)
Glasgow 65 %
Glasgow’s consistency and deeper squad give them a reasonable away advantage.

19:30 Connacht v Ulster (Dexcom Stadium)
Ulster 60 %
Close match, but Ulster away is risky; I still give Ulster a mild edge.

21:45 Munster v Leinster (Thomond Park)
Munster 55 %
Irish derby, home advantage matters; Munster slightly preferred but this is tight.

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20 December 2025

15:30 DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions (DHL Stadium)
Stormers 65 %
Stormers at home are formidable; Lions tough but more vulnerable on tour.

16:00 Benetton v Zebre Parma (Stadio Monigo)
Benetton 75 %
One of the safer picks—Benetton expected to win comfortably.

17:00 Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh (Hampden Park)
Glasgow 65 %
Glasgow’s form and structure generally favour them, even away or in special venues.

18:00 Sharks v Vodacom Bulls (Kings Park)
Bulls 55 %
Bulls are more consistent, but travel + Kings Park make this tighter, hence only 55%.

19:30 Ospreys v Munster (Dunraven Brewery Field)
Munster 60 %
Munster’s consistency and depth tilt the matchup, though Ospreys can punch back.

21:45 Dragons v Connacht (Rodney Parade)
Connacht 60 %
Connacht more stable side; Dragons home crowd helps, but likely not enough edge.

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Sunday 14 December

17:15 Northampton Saints v Bulls (Cinch Stadium)

AI Grote: Northampton Saints 31 – 18 Bulls
Rob (OuGrote): Northampton Saints by 5
James (OuGrote): Northampton Saints by 7
Rugby4Cast: Northampton Saints 81%

This one should be a thriller. Saints’ fast, expansive style at Franklin’s Gardens — combined with their strong attacking shapes and home momentum — gives them a slight edge. The Bulls’ power game and maul will cause real problems, but Saints’ tempo and accuracy in the wide channels should be just enough to clinch a tight win.

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Sunday 14 December

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.

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Sunday 14 December

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.

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Sunday 14 December

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.

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