Where to watch
Sharks vs Exeter
Premier Sports 2, 1pm
Northampton vs Castres
Premier Sports 2, 3.15pm
Munster vs Stade Francais
Premier Sports 1, 5.30pm
Saracens vs Bulls
Premier Sports 2, 5.30pm
Racing vs Harlequins
Premier Sports 1, 8pm
Glasgow vs Sale
Premier Sports 2, 8pm
Match predictions & best bets
Bulls +6
2pts 10-11 general
Glasgow -8
2pts 10-11 Ladbrokes
Champions Cup predictions
There are some top-class clashes in the first round of European pool action as Harlequins take on French aristocrats Racing, while Exeter and Saracens face heavyweight South African opposition.
Exeter’s trip to Durban opens the day and former European champions the Chiefs, without a win this season, are given a handicap in the high teens against the Sharks.
The South African side won the Challenge Cup last season as their scrum destroyed Gloucester in the final in London, and their Springbok players, including captain Eben Etezebeth, go straight into the starting line-up.
Things may be closer at the StoneX Stadium, where the Bulls look worth backing to at least keep things close against Sarries.
The South African side were 27-16 winners when the teams met in Pretoria last year although Saracens played most of the second half with 14 men.
However, wet and windy conditions look set to favour tight, forward play and a six-point start could be big in a low-scoring clash.
Northampton’s defence of their Premiership title has started uncertainly and they have won just three of seven games. They look worth swerving giving up a double-figure handicap even against as erratic a side as Castres.
Munster have a similar record of three wins from seven as they have slumped to 11th in the URC standings, although two of their four defeats have some in South Africa and another was against Leinster in Dublin.
This could be a launchpad for them as they take on a Stade Francais side languishing in 12th place in the Top 14, although a handicap in the teens is giving little away.
Premiership side Sale are given a double-figure start in places for their trip to face URC champions Glasgow at Scotstoun.
The Sharks have lost all three of their away Premiership games this season by more than their eight-point line and given rain is forecast to let up by the afternoon, the Warriors look worth backing to win comfortably.
There’s no Owen Farrell in the Racing line-up to face Harlequins as the English side look to repeat last year’s impressive 31-28 win in Paris.
The hosts have had to move this match from their spectacular La Defense Arena to Creteil in the suburbs. Both teams have made patchy starts to the season but Quins, with Marcus Smith back at fly-half, are unlikely to fear the occasion and this may well turn into an open, high-scoring encounter.
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