We have a Leinster v Harlequins prediction for you plus a breakdown of the betting odds, team news and matchups ahead of their European Championship Cup clash.
How To Watch Leinster v Harlequins
When is Leinster v Harlequins
3 pm, Saturday, April 5th
TV Channel
RTÉ 2, RTÉ Player and Premier Sports 2
Who are the Officiating Team?
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant Referees : Kevin Bralley (France), Thomas Charabas (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
Where is Leinster v Harlequins
Aviva Stadium
Leinster v Harlequins Odds
Team | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Leinster | 1/50 | 98% |
Harlequins | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Draw | 50/1 | 2 % |
Leinster are priced at 1/50 favourites to win this game.
Leinster to win - 1/50
Harlequins are outsiders with odds of 10/1 and the draw is seen as a 50/1 shot.
Harlequins to win - 10/1
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Handicap Betting
Leinster: -21 @ 10/11
Harlequins +21 @ 10/11
Handicap Draw: -21 @ 18/1
Bet on Rugby Union Odds at BoyleSports
Team News
Leinster Team News
Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Rabah Slimani, Joe McCarthy, RG Snyman; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt)
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Tadhg Furlong, Ryan Baird, Max Deegan Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett.
v Harlequins Team News
Harlequins: Halfpenny; Green, Beard, Waghorn, David; Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele; Launchbury, Cunningham-South; Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt (capt).
Replacements : Riley, Jones, Kerrod, Herbst, Hammond, Care, Benson, Northmore.
Leinster v Harlequins Preview
Leinster Form
Leinster largely went trophyless during the 23/24 season with their sole success coming with an Irish Shield victory, which would hardly even constitute a consolation prize given the high standards that they set themselves. After finishing third on the URC table they would lose 25-20 to Bulls in the Semi-Final and before they lost in the Champions Cup in the final 31-22 against Toulouse.
They started the 24/25 season in terrific form winning their first 12 matches in the United Rugby Championship with their first defeat of the season coming in a narrow 21-20 defeat against the Bulls in South Africa, though they’ve since bounced back with a 7-10 victory over the Sharks. In the European Champions Cup, they have won 4/4 matches to top Pool 2 ahead of closest challenger La Rochelle.
While both teams have played out three competitive fixtures previously, Leinster are a completely different beast this last decade or so and will head into this game as very comfortable favourites and justifiably so.
Harlequins Form
The 23/24 season was a mixed bag for Harlequins, domestically they failed to pluck up any trees finishing 6th out of 10 teams in the English Premiership though due to the tight nature of the table, it was only 5 points back of Sale who finished in 3rd place. In the Champions Cup, they finished 2nd in their initial pool behind Toulouse but ahead of Bath, Racing 92, Ulster and Cardiff. They then defeated Glasgow Warriors 28-24, and Bordeaux 41-2 before losing in the semi-final 38-26 against Toulouse.
Domestically in 24/25, they’ve continued to struggle in what has been another competitive Premiership season with their 37-point total from their opening 13 matches currently putting them 7th in the division though again it’s only 4 back of 3rd placed Leicester. In the Champions Cup this season they finished 4th in Pool 4 coming behind Toulon, Glasgow Warriors and Sale Sharks but ahead of Racing 92 and Stormers.
Harlequins were beaten by league leaders Bath 47-28 last time out in the Premiership and will need to step up their performance considerably if they’re to stand a chance of winning this game.
Leinster v Harlequins Rugby Head-To-Head
All-Time Head-To-Head Record
Harlequins and Leinster have met 3 times since 2009, with Leinster winning twice and Harlequins winning once
Head-To-Head Results
2014: Leinster won 14- 13 2014: Harlequins won 24-18 2009: Leinster won 5-6
Trends
Harlequins’s only victory over Leinster came during the 2014 Champions Cup Pool Stage when they won 24-18.
Key Players
Caelan Doris - Ireland
The Leinster man and recent Irish Captain (26) is a leading figure for Leinster and Ireland which culminated at the end of 2024 with him being named the 2024 Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men's XVs Player of the Year. Following that win he said 'There's still so much potential in me as a player and a leader'
Doris has not been seen on the field since Ireland's final Six Nations fixture against Italy and he hasn’t played with Leinster since their 47-21 win in this competition over Bath at the beginning of the year.
He returns this weekend after being rested for the South African trip and with Doris in line to be Captain for The Lions in the summer, a big performance can be expected for this big occasion. He can be gotten at odds of 12/1 to be the first-try scorer and is EVS to score a try at any point in this game.
Doris first try scorer - 12/1
Marcus Smith – Harlequins
The magic man from Flyhalf England International Marcus Smith (26) oozes quality, class and flare in everything he does on the field and has been ever-present for Harlequins since his debut in 2017 in 172 appearances putting a phenomenal 1,563 points on the board. Though he’s still a player who divides opinion on his best role for England.
Smith made his return to Harlequins following his time away from the provincial scene during the Six Nations with England last weekend against Bath. It was a mixed showing from Smith making conversions in the 35th, 46th and 76th minute but was also yellow carded in the 18th minute.
A better performance will be needed if Harlequins are to land any glove on Leinster and the match will have the added intrigue with him going up against opposite number Sam Prendergast for Leinster with both expected to be the leading choices to be the Lions #10 next summer. If you fancy him to score a try he’s 33/1 to do it first and 10/3 to score one at any point.
Smith any time try - 10/3
Leinster v Harlequins Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: Leinster 35-12 Harlequins
Leinster are serious operators, arguably the best around and came out with a respectable one win and a narrow loss from their recent excursion to South Africa
Harlequins are not playing to the standard they did last season but still have some talented players in their ranks.
Leinster should be far too good for Harlequins as suggested by the odds market.
Best Bet: Leinster Win By 21-30 Points @ 11/4
Leinster Win By 21-30 Points - 5/2
Bet on Rugby Union Odds at BoyleSports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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