Cardiff Blues (2) v
Glasgow (1/2)
The most tightly balanced pool of the tournament so far and
a game that Glasgow can take to give themselves a fighting chance of
qualification. The Blues bounced back from their first half obliteration at
Sandy Park with an improved second half performance before outfighting and
overturning Toulon at the Arms Park on the last matchday but their squad,
especially in the pack, has been hit badly by injury since – Gethin Jenkins,
Bradley Davies and Sam Warbuton are all missing to name just three – and the
Scots have more than enough in the pack to maintain parity while boasting a
backline with Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland and DTH Van Der Merwe along with the
livewire Niko Matawalu and Duncan Weir to give a balanced structure to the
Fijian’s spinning style. Cardiff are capable of putting a stiff home resistance
but don’t start with the same power they took into the Toulon game and are 13
points behind in the league; Glasgow were at sea in this competition last year
but had to go to Ulster, Northampton and Castres and look capable of taking a
win. The Scotsmen are asked to give up 5 points
Advice: 2 pts Glasgow to win by 1-12 points (6/4 Ladbrokes)
Castres (1/10) v
Ospreys (6)
Following a rare away victory thanks to 20 points from the
boot of Geoffrey Pallis against Montpellier, Castres come into this on a high
after romping to a comfortable 6 try win against Bayonne and they should be too
good for Ospreys at their fortress. The French Champions have made plenty of
changes to their side from the side that was so impressive against Bayoone but
should still have no trouble picking up 4 points against an Ospreys side that
has lost to Munster and Glasow either side of a much expected win against
Zebre. A handicap of 12 is potentially pushing it, but Ospreys have lost by 10
points or more on four of their last 5 journeys in this competition and a home
win by 11-20 points might be the bet given the French Champion’s home record.
Advice: 1 pt Castres to win by 11-20 points (12/5 Paddy
Power)
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