2020-21 European Rugby Champions Cup – Wasps vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Wasps vs ASM Clermont Auvergne taking place? Saturday 3rd April, 2021 – 12:30 (UK)
Where is Wasps vs ASM Clermont Auvergne taking place? Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Where can I get tickets for Wasps vs ASM Clermont Auvergne? Visit official club websites for ticket information
What television channel is Wasps vs ASM Clermont Auvergne on? This match will be televised live on BT Sport
Where can I stream Wasps vs ASM Clermont Auvergne? BT Sport subscribers can stream the match live via the BT Sport website & app
THE TEAM NEWS
Wasps: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Paolo Odogwu, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Thomas Young, 6 James Gaskell, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ben Harris
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Jack Owlett, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Sione Vailanu, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Zach Kibirige
Clermont: 15 Kotaro Matsushima, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 George Moala, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez (c), 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Fischer, 6 Judicaël Cancoriet, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 3 Cristian Ojovan, 2 Adrien Pélissié, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Etienne Fourcade, 17 Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Thibaud Lanen, 20 Peceli Yato, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams, 23 Peter Betham
THE PREDICTION
Wasps’ Premiership struggles continued as they lost a third match in four for March and their second by a gut-wrenching 19-20 at home to sale last Saturday. Wasps also lost by 19-20 at home to struggling Gloucester this time last month to show a poor five defeats from their last six league games that looks to have consigned them to a lower-half finish. They will be grateful for the domestic break to play some knockout rugby here against travelling Clermont Auvergne, though the French giants are in excellent shape right now and pose a significant threat here. Clermont have won four of their last five Top 14 matches to move within seven points of leaders Toulouse and that kind of form looks like too much for this current Wasps outfit to handle. What is more, the visitors have won two of their last three matches on the road domestically and, though like many of Wasps’ defeats it should be close, Clermont should be able to cover -5 to qualify.