RUGBY UNION BETTING: Toulouse will go into this weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter finals as 3/1 favs (totesport), just ahead of Irish team Munster, who are 4/1 with Ladbrokes.
Leinster are 3rd in the betting at 11/2 (Betfred), with French team Biarritz close behind at 13/2 with 888sport. England’s only prospect, Northampton, have been priced up at 20/1 by Stan James, making them the rank outsiders.
The reason for the pessimism about The Saints is that they must travel to Thomond Park this Saturday for their quarter final clash against Munster, in which Paddy Power offer 4/11 on the Irishmen.
Biarritz and Ospreys will face each other in a close contest, home advantage means William Hill have priced Biarritz at 8/15 favs but there wont be a lot in this one.
In the bottom half of the draw, competition favourites Toulouse take on fellow French side Stade Francais and Betdaq say Toulouse are 4/11 to progress.
Leinster will face Clermont in another close game, home advantage swaying Boylesports to offer 4/7 on Leinster.
The presence of 4 French teams means William Hill unsurprisingly have 4/6 on France as being the winning nation of the Heineken Cup. However, the two remaining Irish heavyweights cannot be ignored and Ladbrokes’ 15/8 on Ireland as the winning nation reflects this threat.
Fri 9th Apr 2100: Leinster v Clermont
Sat 10th Apr 1600: Biarritz v Ospreys
Sat 10th Apr 1830: Munster v Northampton
Sun 11th Apr 1730: Toulouse v Stade Francais
