The Sharks host Exeter Chiefs in their first European Champions Cup match in Durban on Saturday and the home side are firm favourites with the bookmakers.
Sharks v Exeter Chiefs, Saturday 7th December, Durban, KO 15:00 (South African time)
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Luc Ramos (Fra) , Adrien Marbot (Fra)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (Fra)
Weather Forecast – Durban
Sharks:
This is a Pool 1 clash and these two sides will have outright favourites Stade Toulouse for company along with Union Bordeaux-Begles, Leicester Tigers and Ulster.
In the current United Rugby Championship campaign the Sharks are in sixth spot with 4 wins and 2 defeats. They won 1 and lost 2 of their tour matches but have since reeled off 3 straight wins in Durban against Glasgow (28-24), Munster (41-24) and most recently the Stormers (21-15).
Last season the Sharks were involved in the Challenge Cup which they won, beating Gloucester in the final in London. Earlier this season the Sharks also won domestic silverware after beating the Lions in the Currie Cup Final.
Each team plays 4 pool matches and after this the Sharks will head to Leicester Tigers next week and in January they host Toulouse and finish up in Bordeaux.
In the outright betting to win the Champions Cup the Sharks are priced at around 40/1 and they are 10/1 to top this pool
Exeter Chiefs:
Exeter are currently bottom of the Premiership having lost all 7 of their matches although they have picked up 6 bonus points. Most recently they went down 19-15 away to Bath.
In the Champions Cup pool stage last season Exeter won their first 3 matches to secure a place in the last 16 where they beat Bath 21-15 in a home fixture. A quarter final visit to Stade Toulouse proved a bridge to far as they went down 64-26.
In the outright betting to win the Champions Cup Exeter are trading at around 90/1 and they are 22/1 to top this pool.
Team News
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Ben Hammersley, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Tommy Wyatt, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Stu Townsend, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Jacques Vermeulen (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Franco Molina, 4 Richard Capstick, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Will Becconsall, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Will Rigg
The Betting
Updated 07 Dec 08h11
Sharks -15.5 points at 9/10
Exeter +15.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 06 Dec 08h35
I am waiting for team news and points lines before getting involved here.
Updated 07 Dec 08h11
The Sharks have named a strong team and the handicap has moved from -15.5 to -17.5. The thing is this isn’t a bad Exeter team and I can see them getting a few scores, especially if the Sharks get ahead and ease off the gas.
The points line is 47.5 and conditions look like being decent at kick off with some rain expected after the game.
There will be some humidity but it doesn’t look too high and I am going for overs here.
Click here for betting chat on this game from Thursday nights THE HANDICAP our rugby betting show.
BET: 4 units over 47.5 points at WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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