Rugby Union: Heineken Cup & Amlin Challenge 14th-17th

[NIGEL2611]

Amlin Challenge Cup

Thursday 14 October 2010 Home Draw Away BPP Montpellier Hérault v Newcastle Falcons (19:45 BST) 1.5 23 3.25 101.78 %

Here we go for another weekend of nail biting Rugby! The first game is tomorrow night in Montpellier and the teams are as follows: The teams: Montpellier: 15 Pierre Bérard, 14 Quentin Doumayrou, 13 Seta Tuilevuka, 12 Grant Rees, 11 Dimitri Pelo, 10 Santiago Fernandez, 9 Benoit Paillaugue, 8 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 7 Johan Wasserman, 6 Vassili Bost ©, 5 Goncalo Uva, 4 Lionel Dargier, 3 Kevin Kervarec, 2 Joan Caudullo, 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga. Replacements: 16 Fabien Rofes, 17 George Jgenti, 18 Sébastien Petit, 19 Marc Giraud, 20 Adrien Tomas, 21 Raphael Lagarde, 22 Florian Nicot, 23 Michel Macurdy. Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Luke Fielden, 13 Luke Eves, 12 Andy Henderson, 11 Charlie Amesbury, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Chris Pilgrim, 8 Allister Hogg ©, 7 Redford Pennycook, 6 Brent Wilson, 5 Glen Townson, 4 Filipo Levi, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Joe Graham, 1 Grant Shiells. Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 Darren Fearn, 18 James Hall, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Micky Young, 22 James Fitzpatrick, 23 Tom Catterick. The biggest thing about this game is the eighteen year old (yes 18!) at Fly Half for Newcastle, Joel Hodgson. Manning is out injured, Hodgson came on as a sub against Bourgoin last week and is reckoned to be quite a prospect. He was quite lively when he got his chance last week and I am all for bringing through the youth, but up against a side like Montpellier you are not going to get an easy ride even if you were Dan Carter. 4/9 is massive in favour of the Montpellier win and this is almost worth putting the house on it! I thought Montpellier may at best get a losing bonus point away against Exeter last game, but they took the win against a tough side. Montpellier are unbeaten at home this season, against the like of Toulouse, Racing Metro & Castres. The closest resembling game, to this one could be when they played La Rochelle, winning 26-6 and I fancy something very similar tomorrow against a weakened Newcastle, who didn't impress me in their last match. Looking at the other odds for this game, it's like being a kid in a sweet shop with loads of money! The handicap is only -5 against Montpellier. Skybet offer 8/13 for Montpellier getting to 10pts first.

[b10111]

Re: Rugby Union: Heineken Cup & Amlin Challenge 14th-17th

Im not going to preview the obvious picks, Im taking the handicaps for the following teams,

Heineken Cup – Biarritz, Perpignan, Leicester and Wasps and Toulouse

A few previews of leans that I’m still considering

Edinburg vs Northampton

Well looking at this fixture last week you would have lumped on Northampton but after Edinburg’s close defeat against Cardiff last week, makes you wonder whether a new competition and format hasn’t fired up the Magner league strugglers.I didn’t watch the match to conclude if there was anything to it, but I also believe the tight win by Northampton over a gritty Castres will focus them enough to realize they cant take this weekends opponents lightly.

I believe the quality of Northampton will rise and expect a tight win over the hosts.

Castres vs Cardiff blues

Another game that must have the bookies scratching the heads. Pool favorites Cardiff, barely got over the line against Edinburg last week and need to improve in a number of departments to make an impression on the French team. Rules of thumb says the French are hard to beat at home and even though Castres have been dreadful in the Top 14, I believe their tightish loss to Northampton will give them confidence to give the Welsh team a tough time.

Too close to call, I fancy Cardiff to nick it though. I can’t bring myself to back a team in dreadful form like Castres.

Small stakes in pool 1 though, too many tight games.

Pool 2

Saracens vs Leinster

Saracens got a predictable beating at Clermont and Leinster’s class shone through against an impressive Racing team.I cat call this one and if I had to make a peak I wopuld go for Leinster.There will bde quite a number of away win this season I believe because the difference in class and stages of the season makes a huge difference.

No bet

Racing Metro vs Clermont Auvergne

Im all over Racing, they went down bravely at Leinster and have some cracking players , Steyn, Hernandez, Nallet, Fall, Masi - there are plenty of big names in the Racing squad but fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski who has been deadly so far this season.

It’s a pity they have to play a French team but I expect them to make home advantage count. It might be close but Racing should win in a high scoring game.

Amlin Cup

Handicaps for Bourgoin, harlequins, Sale, Brive,Gloucester and La Rochelle and Stade francais

GL:hope detailed previews to follow, Nigel, if you get odds for the other matches, please put them up!