Rugby tips: Northampton – Clermont – ERCC

 Northampton – Clermont 

(Most recent H2H result: 7-24)

• The situation is simple for Clermont- a victory will bring them to the quarter finals. After a very good start of the season in Top 14, the team faced a huge amount of injuries that lead them to play last week’s game with a team formed mainly from very young players without any experience. The result was a categoric loss at Racing 92 (58-6). Due to all injuries, Clermont is not expecting very much from the French league ( Top 14 ), so the main goal for the team remains this european competition.
• Ten fresh guys will regain Clermont starting XV today. Leaders of the team in their good days, all these experienced players will change the face of the team without any doubt ( Chaume, Van der Merwe, Lee, Lapandry, Parra, Betham, Abendanon, Kayser, McAlister, Lamerat ).
• 10th in the English league with 26 points after 13 games, Northampton has nothing to play in this european competition.Their manager for the last 10 years has been changed in December, in order to make things better. They finally won a game last week versus Gloucester ( 22-19 ), but it’s hard to believe that today’s game will be treated with importance. So i’m expecting a turnover for Northampton and a victory for Clermont.

Prediction: Clermont-4, odds 1.65