Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting where Leinster are trading as 19/10 favourites ahead of Toulouse at 11/2, you can get 6/1 La Rochelle, 15/2 Saracens and 11/1 and better the balance.
As far as the South African teams go the Sharks who had a good win last week are 25/1 with the Blue Bulls 33/1 and the Stormers also trading at 33/1.
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FRIDAY
BORDEAUX v SHARKS – Click here to bet
Bordeaux went down 22-17 to Gloucester on the road in their opening match and they will have been disappointed to let a 17-5 lead slip.
The Sharks are coming out of a very rocky URC run of form and they had a tough task last week at home to the Harlequins, but were up for the job and won 39-31 in an entertaining match. It was also enough to beat the handicap of 5 points.
Handicap: Bordeaux -0.5
Suggested Bet: Tribet any other result at 15/10
I am expecting this to be a close game as Bordeaux cannot afford defeat and these are the sort of games that the Sharks will need to win if they are to challenge in this competition.
For this bet to arrive we need the winning margin for either team to be 6 points or less and the draw is also in our favour.
SATURDAY
EXETER CHIEFS v BLUE BULLS – Click here to bet
Exeter Chiefs grabbed a good away win last weekend beating Castres 27-12 in France. The defence was excellent on the night and they will fancy their chances of a big victory against the Bulls.
The Bulls raced into a 28-0 lead against Lyon at home last week, but the French team came back at them stronger and at the end they held on for a 42-36 victory at Loftus, a game where they started 12 point favourites.
The Bulls have been in the news this week for splitting their squads and sending over what looks to be a team well short of their first choice 15. This is seen in the market move for Exeter from -7.5 to the current level of -15.5.
Handicap: Exeter -15.5
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Exeter-15.5 at 10/11
Exeter are the sort of side that can run away with a big victory and although I expect this Bulls side to give some cheek early, at the end of the day I don’t think they are going to be staying with an Exeter side that will be smelling blood.
STORMERS v LONDON IRISH – Click here to bet
The Stormers started quickly away to Clermont last week and they were actually 11 points in front at half-time. Unfortunately though the French side warmed down and came back to win 24-14 which was also enough for Clermont minus backers who had taken the early -3.5 and backed it out to -5.5 by kick-off.
The London Irish lost their opening game at home to French Champions, Montpellier going down 32-27. They had to play the second-half with 14 men after their hooker, Creevy was sent off and they will be well aware that losing home games is often terminal in this competition
Handicap: -14.5
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Stormers -14.5
I think deep down London Irish will have already given up in this competition and are probably just enjoying being in Cape Town and away from the cold weather. The Stormers can run out comfortable victors here and for Total Points punters I do expect plenty of points with the London Irish no doubt getting a few tries as well.
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
