Biarritz (1/10) v
Connacht (10)
Biarrtiz’s European travel woes continued as they were
soundly beaten by Connacht but home turf should see them win, although a
handicap of 14 points looks a tall order on all known evidence and the home win
by 1-12 is the only real appealing option. Connacht are much stronger at home
but gave Harlequins and Gloucester good games on the road last year.
Advice: 1 pt Biarritz to win by 1-12 points (12/5 Stan
James)
Edinburgh (11/8) v
Racing Metro (4/6)
After 180 minutes without a single point in the Heineken
Cup, Edinburgh restored some pride at least when gaining a losing bonus point
at Racing Metro and might have fancied a first win here, but with the pool way
out of their hands they seem to have accepted defeat judging by a team selection
which has only one of their backline remaining from their 19-9 defeat last
week. Without Greig Laidlaw, Riche Rees, and Tim Visser the Scots look
unbackable and the visitors can win by 1-12 points.
Advice: 1 pt Racing Metro to win by 1-12 points (7/4 Coral)
Benetton (5) v
Leicester (2/9)
Leicester eased off the gas considerably after 4 first half
tries against Treviso at Welford Road but can afford no such luxury based on
the Italian’s fightback in the second half, and they may find this tougher
going than expected on Italian turf. Benetton drew with Ospreys, beat Biarritz
and pushed Saracens to a 6 point game in the pools last season and look good
value to push the visitors to a tight game.
Advice: 1 pt Leicester to win by 1-12 points (6/4 general)
Ospreys (3) v
Toulouse (2/5)
Toulouse should beat the Ospreys to take full control of the
pools but the Welshmen did well to keep the score respectable considering the
front row injuries that they had (along with plenty of scoring chances)and
might be able to push Toulouse a little more at home
Advice: 1 pt Toulouse to win by 1-12 points (11/8 Bet365)
Harlequins (1/100) v
Zebre (50)
Harlequins were superb in Italy, scoring eight tries and 57
points – and should embarrass Zebre even further this time around at the Stoop.
The 35 handicap looks to be the best bet, although there might be value in a
big winning margin in the morning.
Advice: 1 pt Harlequins -35 (10/11 Sportingbet)
Exeter (4/11) v Scarlets
(5/2)
Exeter were superb in a truly deserved win over a very disappointing
Scarlets side in Wales and they should beat the same side at home despite the
return of Goerge North on the wing. Indeed with Ian Whitten, Jack Nowell and Phil Dolman all
come into the backline, they look to have the stronger reinforcements and a
1-12 home win looks fair value.
Advice: 1 pt Exeter to win by 1-12 points (11/8 Bet365)
Leinster (2/5) v
Clermont (3)
Leinster’s amazing winning streak in the Heineken Cup came
to an end last week but it was testament to them that they can feel aggrieved not
to have won at a place where Clermont are now 51 games unbeaten. Back on home
turf, they should feel confident of setting up a big bid to top the pool and a
6 point handicap is well within their reach. This is the strongest Clermont
side to come to the Aviva but last week proved they’ve still got some way to go
to have ambitions of beating Leinster here.
Advice: 3 pts Leinster -6 (10/11 general)
Montpellier (1/8) v
Cardiff Blues (13/2)
Montpellier may have
been lucky to face a 14 man Cardiff but they did beat them with eventual ease
and on home soil, the result should be just as comprehensive, if not more so
despite the return of Sam Warburton to the Blues.
Advice: 1 pt Montpellier -13 (10/11 Paddy Power)
Ulster (2/11) v
Northampton (7)
Ulster’s demolition of Saints last week was one of the most impressive
performances in Europe all season and if previous evidence is anything to go
by, then Saints could be in for a long hard night at Ravenhill. It’s less than
a year ago since Ulster destroyed Leicester here, and with Saints looking short
of ideas in attack last week, the home side only appeal here. Last week we
mentioned that have scored more points than their opponents in 9 of their last
10 second halves, and with Northampton kept pointless after the break last week
that might be the place to go, while Ulster to win by 11-20 also looks good.
Advice: 2 pts Ulster -6 on 2nd Half No Draw Handicap (5/6 Betfred),
1 pt Ulster to win by 11-20 points (12/5 Paddy Power)
Castres (1/10) v
Glasgow (7)
Castres won the arm wrestle between the two sides in Glasgow
last week and should seal the deal here. A handicap of 14 points is doable for
the Frenchmen if they are able to show their best but the 1-12 winning option looks
to be more appealing here if this turns into a similar arm wrestle.
Advice: 1 pt Castres to win by 1-12 points (7/4 general)
Saracens (4/7) v
Munster (15/8)
Munster’s win in the reverse fixture improved their spectacular
home record in this competition but they could easily have been beaten by
Saracens had it not been for Owen Farell’s 4 penalty misses and they can
overturn that result here to take control of the pool. A handicap of 4 points
is reasonable but the home winning margin by 1-12 looks best and is the preferred
option, with the 1-5 point winning option for the home side making appeal considering
that Saracens won their home fixtures against Biarritz and Ospreys but 4 and 5
points respectively.
Advice: 1 pt Saracens to win by 1-12 points (6/4 general), 1
pt Saracens to win by 1-5 points (9/2 gneral)
Toulon (1/50) v
Sharks (40)
A fired up Sale
Sharks and dreadfully poor conditions prevented Toulon from being anything but
functional in England but at home things should be very different even with a
rested side. A handicap of 23 points is more than acceptable and looks to be
worth taking with sunnier weather, while the 21-30 winning margin is also an
option.
Advice: 1 pt Toulon -23 (10/11 general)
No comments:
Post a Comment