Bristol vs Toulon
16th October 2100hrs
Rugby – France – European Challenge Cup Final
Pick Bristol -3 handicap
Bookmaker Betway
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October
The final of the European Rugby Challenge Cup 2019/20 is here on Friday and it features Premiership side, Bristol.
They have produced some fine European form in the knockout stages of the competition to make it to his stage.
The Bears are the current odds-on favourites to collect the match win as well.
But French side Toulon impressively sent English side Leicester packing in the semi finals.
Can the Bears overpower them to bring home the trophy?
Table of Contents
Bristol Preview – Can Bears land their first Challenge Cup title?
If Bristol are successful on Friday they will collect the Challenge Cup for the first time. This is such a big moment for them.
With their shot at the Premiership title having fallen by the wayside in the semi finals, there is still a huge opportunity for them to put some shine on their season.
This is actually the first time that the Bears have managed to make it through to the final of this competition.
Back in the pool stage of the tournament the Bears romped to a W5 D1 record and were just untouchable in a section against Briva, Zebreand Stade Francais.
Their final opponents, Toulon, were the only team to pick up more pool stage points than Bristol.
In the match outright for the European Challenge Cup final rugby betting, Bristol are 4/7 odds-on* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October).
The Bristol Bears and Toulon have met twice before and both of those previous meetings went to Bristol.
Both of those previous meetings happened in the Challenge Cup Pool stage in the 2008/09 season.
Whoever wins this on the weekend will be the 16th different club to lift the trophy.
On paper there is very little to choose between the two teams with very similar records in this season’s competition.
They have both taken an unbeaten record to get to this stage (Bath W7 D1, Toulon W8).
That means that the bookmakers are keeping the handicap lines right here and a Bristol -3 is at 10/11* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October).
Toulon Preview – Can top seeds deliver the title?
Toulon moved through the pool stage of this season’s Heineken Cup as the top seeds, winning all games.
They got the better of Scarlets, Bayonne and London Irish in the pool stage and were just never troubled there.
It meant then that they had a favourable draw in the quarter finals as they met eighth seeds Scarlets, who they had already beaten twice in the pool stage.
Toulon did have a tougher challenge than expected on their hands in that quarter final, winning 11-6.
But then they really stepped it up in the semi finals.
The French side took a commanding 34-19 win over Premiership side Leicester Tigers.
Heading into Friday’s big action, Toulon are the 6/4 underdogs, but warrant respect at the same time* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October)..
This is their third time in reaching the final of the European Challenge Cup, and with losses in those two previous visits, it’s a case of third time lucky for them.
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This will be the ninth Anglo-French final in the tournament and from those previous meetings, Premiership clubs lead W5 D3.
However, teams from the TOP 14 have won the last two such meetings in the final of the tournament.
Going back to how similar these two have performed in this season’s Challenge Cup, both conceded just 1.3 tries per game on average.
This may be a tight game between two evenly matched teams.
A Toulon Half Time Option is at 5/4 to see the French side hold a key mid-game advantage* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October)..
Bristol vs Toulon Betting Advice
Bristol got themselves throughout the final with a semi final victory over Bordeaux thanks to extra time.
The challenge gets harder for them in this one, but we do think that the Bears are worth backing to pick up the title.
There is low-value odds around for rugby betting in the match outright, but a Bristol 1-7 Winning margin for a quote of 5/2 has some appeal* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October)..
Key Facts – Bristol vs Toulon Betting Tip
- Bristol are in their first ever Challenge Cup Final
- Bristol have won four of their last five fixtures (all competitions)
- Toulon have lost their two previous European Challenge Cup Final appearances
Even though Toulon finished the pool stage as top seeds, just ahead of Bristol, the Bears had a vastly superior points-difference stat.
The Bears should be extra fired up having lost their Premiership semi final match against Wasps last weekend.
This is a big chance of redemption and we fancy the Premiership team to win the match by hook or by crook.
The best betting odds for Bristol vs Toulon
Bristol to win: 4/7 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Toulon to win: 6/4 at Bet365
