The Cheetahs travel to Oyonnax for their final European Challenge Cup pool match on Saturday and the visitors need a victory to rubber stamp qualification for the Round of 16.
Oyonnax v Cheetahs, Saturday 20th January, Oyonnax, KO 17:15 (South African time)
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (Ang)
Assistant Referees: George Selwood (Ang) , Ethan Glass (Sui)
TMO: David Rose (Ang)
Weather Forecast – Oyonnax
Oyonnax:
Oyonnax were beaten 38-7 by the Sharks in Durban in Round 3 last weekend, a result which means they will finish bottom off the Pool 1 standings with 1 point and this will be their final Challenge Cup action of the season
Oyonnax went down 24-7 away to the Dragons in their opening fixture and then lost 21-14 at home to Zebre Parma.
Oyonnax are currently third bottom in the French Top 14 standings with a record of 5 wins and 7 defeats.
Cheetahs:
The Cheetahs tasted defeat for the first time when they lost 33-20 to Section Paloise last weekend. They finished Round 3 second in Pool 1 with 9 points, the Sharks are top with 12, Zebre Parma and Section Paloise both have 8 and the Dragons have 7. A win here will secure a place in the Round of 16 for the Cheetahs.
The Cheetahs opening round clash away to Zebre in Parma saw them come out on top 33-15 but they were 1 try short of adding a bonus point. In Round 2 the Cheetahs hosted the Sharks in a local derby, they led 15-7 at half time and although the lead changed hands more than once in the second half the Cheetahs scored their fourth try with 6 minutes remaining to clinch a 32-29 victory.
Team News
Oyonnax: 15 Maxime Salles, 14 Daniel Ikpefan, 13 Leo Treilles, 12 Lucas Mensa, 11 Joe Ravouvou, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Charlie Cassang (c), 8 Loic Godener, 7 Hugo Hermet, 6 Filimo Taofifenua, 5 Hugo Fabregue, 4 Ewan Johnson, 3 Irakli Mirtskhulava, 2 Manu Leiataua, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 Julien Ratajczak, 17 Adrien Bordenave, 18 Thibault Berthaud, 19 Steve Mafi, 20 Ilan El Khattabi, 21 Jules Soulan, 22 Souleymane Coulibaly, 23 David Odiase
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (Captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Oupa Mohoje, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Abner van Reenen
The Betting
Oyonnax +7.5
Cheetahs -7.5
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
This looks a tough game to call and I have no confidence on the handicap and have bigger and hopefully better fish to fry today.
I am not sure what interest the hosts will have in competing and if pushed would back the Cheetahs to win by 8 or more.
I am going to go for a speculative HT/FT play of Oyonnax/Cheetahs in the hope that the home team come out strong and then lose interest as the game goes on.
Stay close to our forum thread where I will post any additional bets and other punters share their plays
BET: 1 unit Oyonnax/Cheetahs HT/FT at 5/1 at WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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