Darry Worthington previews the Pool 1 and 2 Round 3 Heineken Cup action, which gets underway on Saturday the 7th of December.
The European action is coming thick and fast as we enter the festive season with back-to-back weekends of Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action sure to bring joy to punters everywhere.
Darry Worthington is hoping to add a bit of festive cheer to your weekend by providing you with a couple winners from the Pool 1 and 2 Heineken Cup Round 3 fixtures.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sport
Lyon v Benneton Treviso
Saturday 7 December
Stade Gerland
15:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Lyon 3/10
Draw 20/1
Treviso 5/2
With both teams having lost their opening fixtures, we may well see two second-string sides take to the Stade Gerland this coming Saturday.
There’s no much to harp on about when it comes to recent form as both sides will undoubtedly field their B side. This will play right into Lyon’s hands as the French outfit have a far deeper squad than the one their opponent posses.
Verdict: Lyon 3/10
I fully expect a youthful-looking Lyon side to run rampant here. My money is on the hosts taking it by more than 15 points.
Northampton v Leinster
Saturday 7 December
Franklin’s Gardens
15:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Northampton 19/10
Draw 20/1
Leinster 4/10
Next up is an Anglo-Irish affair with Pool 1’s second-placed side, Northampton, taking on table-toppers Leinster. Only points differential separate the two sides with both teams claiming a bonus-point win and a four-point victory from their opening two Heineken Cup fixtures.
In terms of their most recent results, Leinster beat the Newport-Gwent Dragons 50-15 in the PRO14 while Northampton beat the Leicester Tigers 36-13.
Verdict: Leinster 4/10
This should be an absolute cracker of a game with both sides in solid form. While I can see Leinster edging it, it won’t be by more than eight points.
La Rochelle v Glasgow Warriors
Saturday 8 December
Stade Marcel-Delfrandre
17:15
To Win (80 Mins)
La Rochelle 11/20
Draw 20/1
Glasgow 15/10
A beleaguered La Rochelle outfit will be looking to claim their first win of the Heineken Cup when they take on a Glasgow Warriors outfit that desperately need a win as well.
The hosts head into this game having lost their opening two Heineken Cup fixtures – they went down 12-31 to Exeter in Round 1 and then 25-15 to La Rochelle in Round 2. The Warriors have fared slightly better having beaten the Sale Sharks 13-7 in Round 1. They were unable to continue the momentum in Round 2, however, as they went down 34-18 to the Exeter Chiefs.
Verdict: Glasgow 15/10La Rochelle will likely throw in the towel and field a much-weakened side. I can actually see Glasgow claiming a bonus-point win from their trip to France.
Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs
Sunday 8 December
AJ Bell
17:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Sale 15/10
Draw 22/1
Exeter 11/20
Exeter will be looking to make it three wins from three starts when they take on domestic rivals, the Sale Sharks. The Chiefs have enjoyed a great start to their European campaign beating La Rochelle 12-31 and Glasgow 34-18.
Sale have been rather patchy thus far losing to the Warriors by six-points and then beating La Rochelle by 10.
The sides had contrasting weekends on the domestic front with Exeter hammering Wasps 38-3 and Sale going down 20-13 to the Worcester Warriors.
Verdict: Exeter 11/20
While Sale should put up a fight, I can see Exeter moving clear in the second stanza. My money is on the visitors winning it by more than 10 points.
