The Sharks host outright tournament favourites Stade Toulouse in the European Champions Cup in Durban on Saturday and the home side are the underdogs.
Sharks v Stade Toulouse, Saturday 11th January, Durban, KO 17:15 (South African time)
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Adam Leal (Eng), Hamish Grant (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
Weather Forecast – Durban
Sharks:
The Sharks are currently fourth in this pool with 1 win and 1 defeat for 5 log points. They took on Exeter Chiefs in Durban in their opening pool match and they came through with a 39-21 victory, scoring 5 tries (and conceded 3) to earn the full 5 log points. In their second outing, a tough visit to Leicester Tigers, the Sharks were soundly beaten, 56-17.
Since their last Champions Cup outing the Sharks have played a couple of derby matches in the URC, edging out the Bulls 20-17 in Durban before going down 24-20 to the Stormers in Cape Town and they are currently fifth in the URC standings with a record of 5 wins and 3 defeats.
The Sharks finish up this pool in Bordeaux and in the outright betting to win the Champions Cup they are priced at around 40/1
Stade Toulouse:
Stade Toulouse have 2 bonus point wins for the maximum 10 log points and they top this pool along with Bordeaux. They began by thrashing Ulster 61-21 in a home fixture and followed up with a 64-21 victory away to Exeter Chiefs.
In the Top 14 Stade Toulouse are in second spot, 3 points behind Bordeaux with a record of 9 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats.
After this Stade Toulouse's final pool match comes at home to Leicester Tigers and in the outright betting to win the Champions Cup they are favourites, trading at around 14/10
Team News
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Jurenzo Julius
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Jack Willis, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Rodrigue Neti
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Ange Capuozzo
The Betting
Updated 11 Jan 08h34
Sharks +16.5 points at 9/10
Stade Toulouse -16.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 10 Jan 09h40
This handicap opened Sharks +8.5 and has gradually shifted to +10.5.
Both sides should throw everything at this one but the Sharks have some injuries and I am going to wait for team news and points lines.
Click here for our Investec Champions Cup Week 3 betting blog with a play on every game
Posted 11 Jan 09h01
When a handicap moves out a full score from -8.5 to -16.5 (where it now is)you can't shake that feeling that you missed the boat on the minus.
The Sharks are missing some key players and Toulouse have named a powerful side. The question is whether the handicap shift is enough and after mulling over it I am not sure it is.
Toulouse have won both games by 40+ including Exeter on the road and they appear to have come here on a mission resting players in recent Top 14 matches.
They are a side that tends to keep playing for the full 80 and I think they are going to give the Sharks a beating and am taking the minus.
The points lines is 50.5 with Sharks points 16.5 and Toulouse points 33.5. Conditions look like being typical Durban for this time of the year with high temperatures and high humidity. I am not going to get involved at this stage.
BET: 4 units Toulouse -16.5 at 9/10 at Hollywoodbets
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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