As defending champions and the club with most Bouclier de Brennus Shields in their possession, Toulouse (9/4) are understandably pre-season favourites to win a 22nd Top 14 title, even without Toulon signing Cheslin Kolbe in their midst.
However, in terms of value, for a good each-way bet, we like the look of a side with very little history of winning silverware.
Union Bordeaux-Begles (8/1) have only won the Bouclier de Brennus twice and never in the professional era, their last success coming in 1991.
Looking at their trajectory in recent years, logic says that they will only continue to improve.
In 2019/20, UBB were looking good for their first Top 14 title in 29 years when COVID-19 stopped them in their tracks and the season was cancelled with them right points clear at the top with 17 rounds played.
Then, last season, in Christophe Urios’ first campaign in charge, UBB reached the play-offs for the first time and reached a first Champions Cup semi-final.
Urios’ squad has a settled look to it with the focus on re-signings rather than much external recruitment and it will be fascinating to see how much further they can kick on.
Toulouse, however, still remain the team to beat. Ugo Mola has made them great again and such is the depth of talent at the Stade Ernest Wallon, international weekends don’t always coincide with a drop-off in results.
Their Top 14 and Champions Cup final pugilists La Rochelle (100/30) are a class outfit and with Ronan O’Gara replacing Jonno Gibbes as head honcho, there has been a seamless transfer of power in the coaching ranks.
With a raft of players and long-serving head coach Franck Azema moving on, it may be a year or two before Clermont (9/1) are in a position to mount a sustained challenge.
The return on investment for Racing 92’s (9/2) owners and punters has been below-par in recent years. Big signing Kurtley Beale sort of summed them up – all show, no dough. This season they’ve gone homegrown and, again, it may take time for the youngsters to bed in.
Toulon (10/1), meanwhile, will hope the feet-footed Kolbe will lead the rest a merry dance. The Stade Mayol outfit have recruited well upfront, to give him the best chance of seeing some quality ball, and they should manage to put last season’s disappointing second half of the season behind them and fare better this time around.
Outside of those six, Stade Francais (33/1) and under-rated Castres (50/1) have the capacity to do well.
All prices are Paddy Powe
