Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
A new era in top-tier club rugby begins this weekend as the fresh-faced European Rugby Champions Cup kicks off its inaugural season, ending the revered Heineken Cup’s 19-year reign as the preeminent European club competition. The new format, having trimmed the race down by four sides, promises a higher level of intensity from the get-go. With tougher pools making every clash a must-win, things are bound to be just as tough for the punter as for the clubs competing for the silverware.
Harlequins vs Castres | Friday 17 October | The Stoop | 20:45
To Win (80mins)
Harlequins 1/6
Castres 41/10
Draw 26/1
Handicaps
Harlequins (-11) 9/10
Castres (+11) 9/10
Both sides have made a poor start in their domestic competitions so will be hoping for better fortunes in the European campaign. They didn’t fare too well last season, neither side managing to do enough to advance to the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup, so I wouldn’t expect too much from either side this year.
VERDICT: Harlequins 1/6
Castres have only managed a mere three wins from their nine games to date in this season’s Top 14 so I can’t see them bothering the ‘Quins at home this Friday.
Sale Sharks vs Munster | Saturday 18 October | AJ Bell Stadium | 14:00
To Win (80mins)
Sale Sharks 18/10
Munster 9/20
Draw 20/1
The Sale Sharks will be glad to be back in the top-tier club scene, but their first season back is going to be anything but a pleasant one seeing as they’ve managed to land themselves in an incredibly harsh pool. They aren’t looking all that impressive in their domestic competition either, sitting in tenth place in the Premiership with just two wins from their six games so far. Munster have had a bit of a tame start to the Pro12 this season, but they did pull off a shock away win against lively Leinster a couple of weeks ago which proves we shouldn’t write them off just yet.
VERDICT: Munster 9/20
In a pool this tough, Munster will need to pick up maximum points here to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stages.
Glasgow Warriors vs Bath Rugby | Saturday 18 October | Scotstoun Stadium | 16:15
To Win (80mins)
Glasgow Warriors 15/20
Bath Rugby 11/10
Draw 18/1
Both these sides have improved tremendously this season and could pose a real threat to other sides in Pool 4. Glasgow are in a comfortable second on the PRO12 log with five wins from six outings this season, while Bath is looking strong in fourth spot on the Aviva Premiership standings.
VERDICT: Glasgow 15/20
It’s not often I’ve backed Glasgow to win any game in any competition, but with the way they are playing now under Gregor Townsend, and Bath a notoriously shoddy side on the road, I’ve been left with no choice.
Saracens vs Clermont Auvergne | Saturday 18 October | Allianz Park | 16:15
To Win (80mins)
Saracens 9/20
Clermont Auvergne 19/10
Draw 20/1
Saracens bravely fought their way into the Heineken Cup final last season but came up considerably short against the in-form Toulon in Cardiff. This Saturday they clash with Clermont in a repeat of last year’s semi-final clash, which Saracens took by healthy forty points. But this is a very different Clermont to the one that ran out at Twickenham last season. With a new coach and several new players in the mix they have made a fairly decent start in the Top 14 and will be hungry for revenge after last season’s humiliating exit.
VERDICT: Saracens 9/20
Saracens have won five of their six outings in this season’s Aviva Premiership and are currently sitting second on the log behind the Northampton Saints. They are in fine form and with the home advantage they should pick up maximum points this Saturday.
Racing Metro vs Northampton Saints | Saturday 18 October | Stade Yves Du Manoir | 18:15
To Win (80mins)
Racing Metro 13/20
Northampton Saints 27/20
Draw 18/1
Racing Metro have proven tricky for many big sides in the past, but not often enough to be a real threat to the silverware. Their guests this week, the Northampton Saints, are certain to prove the trickiest of Pool 5’s sides. The Saints are currently leading the Aviva Premiership race three points clear of last season’s losing Heineken Cup finalists Saracens.
VERDICT: Northampton Saints 27/20
The French sides are always tough on home turf, but the Saints are playing some great rugby at the moment so it is difficult to not back them for the win this week.
Leicester Tigers vs Ulster | Saturday 18 October | Welford Road | 20:45
To Win (80mins)
Leicester Tigers 6/10
Ulster 14/10
Draw 19/1
The Tigers need to pick up the pace if they don’t want to be left behind in this pool of death. Shoddy defence and a lacklustre attack has left them trailing in eighth place on the table in the Aviva Premiership. They have a tough opening clash this Saturday as their opponents, Ulster, could very well be the side to beat in Pool 3. They were the only unbeaten side left after the pool stages in last year’s Heineken Cup, and have started strong in this season’s Pro12 with just one loss from their first six games.
VERDICT: Ulster 14/10
This has to be the value bet of the weekend, with Ulster looking in fine form at the moment and the Tigers crippled with injuries, Ulster should have enough in the tank to kick off the season with an invaluable away win.
Ospreys vs Benetton Treviso | Saturday 18 October | Liberty Stadium | 14:00
To Win (80mins)
Ospreys 1/100
Benetton Treviso 14/1
Draw 30/1
Ospreys are off to a strong start in the Pro12, setting the pace at the top of the table and yet to suffer defeat this season. They had a poor showing in last season’s Heineken Cup, finishing stone last in their pool, but things could have a very different ending this time around with their young exciting squad promising great things for the Swansea based club. Benetton Treviso are all the way at the other end of the Pro12 table, still searching for their first win of the season.
VERDICT: Ospreys 1/100
Ospreys outclassed Benetton Treviso 44-13 when the two met at the same ground last month, a similar result this weekend is almost a certainty.
Toulouse vs Montpellier | Sunday 19 October | Stade Ernest Wallon | 14:00
To Win (80mins)
Toulouse 1/4
Montpellier 3/1
Draw 24/1
Toulouse were the most successful side in the Heineken Cup’s 19-year run, winning the title four times and narrowly missing out twice. They are the wealthiest club in the competition and have a squad brimming with big international stars. But despite this, they are four spots behind their weekend’s opponents in the Top 14. Montpellier are looking dangerous at the moment and have already proven in this season’s Top 14 that they know how to win on the road, which is the key to advancing through to the knockout stages in this competition. They suffered a massive blow with the loss of Francois Trinh-Duc to injury for the next three months, but with all the exciting new talent at their disposal this season, I’m sure they’ll manage.
VERDICT: Toulouse 1/4
They may have gotten off to a shaky start in the domestic competition but they found some form recently that has them coming into this clash off the back of a couple of solid wins. They won’t disappoint at home.
Toulon vs Scarlets | Sunday 19 October | Stade Felix-Mayol | 16:15
To Win (80mins)
Toulon 1/100
Scarlets 14/1
Draw 30/1
Toulon will be looking for their third consecutive European title this season and have had a fairly decent start in the Top 14, sitting just three points behind table-topping Clermont after nine games. The Scarlets have had less to celebrate so far this season, managing just two wins from their six games in the Pro12 so far.
VERDICT: Toulon 1/100
The Scarlets are near unbeatable when on song, but it is not all that often that they are. Toulon at home should make light work of the inconsistent lads from Llanelli.
Leinster vs London Wasps | Sunday 19 October | Royal Dublin Society Arena | 18:15
To Win (80mins)
Leinster 1/8
London Wasps 48/10
Draw 27/1
Leinster has been one of the more successful sides in the European campaign over the last few years, clinching the Heineken Cup a whopping three times over the past six seasons. They topped their Heineken Cup pool last season but had their season cut short thanks to a telling 29-14 quarter-final defeat to Toulon in France. The Wasps are yet to blow us away in their domestic competition, currently sitting fifth on the log with three wins from six clashes, but they do have a powerful forward pack and some great talent in the backs. They could prove to be the dark horse of Pool 2.
VERDICT: Leinster 1/8
Leinster has a formidable track record on the European stage so I wouldn’t give their wobbly start in their domestic competition much thought. And with the Wasps already moaning in the press about the extra strain on their squad with all the extra travelling this season I think they’ll fall considerably short in Dublin this week.
