Union Bordeaux Begles host the Sharks in the European Champions Cup on Sunday, the hosts are aiming to secure top spot in the pool and by match day the Sharks will know what they need to do to join them in the knockout rounds.
Union Bordeaux Begles v Sharks, Sunday 19th January, Bordeaux, KO 15:00 (South African time)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Joe James (Eng), Jamie Leahy (Eng)
TMO: Dean Richards (Eng)
Weather Forecast - Bordeaux
Union Bordeaux Begles:
UBB have won all 3 of their matches so far, they top the pool with the maximum 15 points to guarantee a play off place and they now go about trying to secure home advantage in the knockout rounds. Read more on the qualification permutations here.
They started with a 42-28 home win over Leicester Tigers and followed up with victories away to Ulster (40-19) and Exeter Chiefs (69-17).
UBB are currently 3 points clear at the top of the French Top 14 with a record of 11 wins and 3 defeats.
Sharks:
The Sharks were beaten 20-8 by Stade Toulouse in Durban in Round 3 but their qualification hopes are still very much in their own hands. They are currently fourth in the standings with 5 log points and the 2 sides below them in the standings, Ulster and Exeter Chiefs, have yet to earn a point. Those 2 sides clash on Friday and depending on that result the Sharks will know if they need anything from this match to qualify.
The Sharks took on Exeter Chiefs in Durban in their opening pool match and they came through with a 39-21 victory but in their second outing, a tough visit to Leicester Tigers, the they were soundly beaten, 56-17.
Elsewhere the Sharks are currently fifth in the URC standings with a record of 5 wins and 3 defeats.
Team News
Union Bordeaux Begles: 15 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Arthur Retiere, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu (c), 8 Tevita Tatafu, 7 Temo Matiu, 6 Marko Gazzotti, 5 Alexandre Ricard, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Connor Sa, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Jacques Nguimbous, 20 Lachie Swinton, 21 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Joey Carbery
Sharks: 15 Yaw Penxe, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Hakeem Kunene
The Betting
Updated 19 Jan 09h25
Union Bordeaux Begles -27.5 points at 9/10
Sharks +28.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 17 Jan 14h15
Team news will be out soon and I will give the markets time to settle with a bet to follow on Saturday morning.
Posted 17 Jan 18h18
The handicap has opened Bordeaux -27.5 which is very much what I expected.
We also have a points line of 58.5.
I am going to mull over this one and will return with a bet later tonight or on Saturday morning.
Posted 19 Jan 09h27
This handicap is stable at the -28 point levels.
The scenario for Bordeuax is simple, win with a bonus point and top the log. The Sharks need a bonus point or to lose by 27 points or more to stay ahead of Ulster in 4th or else it is Challenge Cup for them. I wonder which they would prefer given they would be away to a European giant of some sorts in the next round. I think they would side with the Champions Cup for prestige reasons and also frankly less rugby as they are likely to dpeart in the round of 16.
The total points line is 60.5 and with good conditions forecast I think this is a game that could cough up alot of points.
I am expecting Bordeaux to come out firing in search of 4 tries and am mulling over 2 bets.
The first is Bordeaux -13.5 at the break at 17/20 and the 2nd is Bordeaux 1st half tries over 3.5 at 5/4.
The Bordeaux half time points line is 21.5 with overs at 17/20 and given I don't see 3 pointers as options in this game the over 3.5 1st half tries looks better value.
I am going to leave the half time cap for now and will back Bordeaux to secure the bonus point before the break.
BET: 3 units Bordeaux over 3.5 1st half tries at 5/4 at Pokerbet
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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