Investec Champions Cup Rd 4 + other rugby 16-18 Jan

I didn't get too involved in round 3 with the Bristol game my highlight. A couple of Sunday doubles went missing (2/4 but wrong combo's) and the bookies edged it 

Will get the blog going tomorrow for round 4 but here are the fixtures for round 4 

Pau v Bulls - Bulls rock bottom of Pool and would probably be doing anything else but play this fixture 
Bath v Edinburgh - a bonus point win for either and they top the table 
Sharks v Clermont - Sharks can still qualify but will likely need Glasgow to beat Saracens. Clermont may send a D team
Bayonne v Leinster - Bayonne have no points, Leinster top and likely to finish there win or lose 
Stormers v Leicester - Stormers 3rd can likely finish runners up with a win
Toulouse v Sale - Toulouse need to win and hope Sarries lose to finish Top 2
Munster v Castres - still a tight group, not impossible for Munster to finish top 2 but need Gloucester to beat Toulon
Gloucester v Toulon - Toulon can finish top 2 or as low as 5th 
Bristol v Bordeaux - Winner tops the table, loser likely 3rd
Northampton v Scarlets - Saints have a chance of finishing 2nd, Scarlets could qualify if Bulls beat Pau 
La Rochelle v Harlequins - 4th hosts 2nd and 5 points between them - should be a cracker 
Glasgow v Saracens - Glasgow probably need a point to qualify top, Saracens likely 2nd with a win 

Early handicaps 

Pau -15.5 v Bulls
Bath -19.5 v Edinburgh
Sharks -26.5 v Clermont
Bayonne +23.5 v Leinster
Stormers -20.5 v Leicester
Munster -22.5 v Castres
Toulouse -34.5 v Sale
Gloucester +9.5 v Toulon
Bristol +8.5 v Bordeaux
La Rochelle -23.5 v Harlequins
Northampton -34.5 v Scarlets
Glasgow -7.5 v Saracens

Plenty of action on the Bulls game and now +10.5 - Blog updated with latest lines, not a lot of movement on the others with money for Bayonne and Bristol and some support for the Sharks 

THE HANDICAP will be back next week the 22nd of Jan 

Sharks side really disappointing to see, a mix bag but even a very weak Clermont side have to be taken on the plus.

CLERMONT + 31 @ 10/11

I now read there a small caveat on sharks x account - line-up subject to change before 2pm tomorrow'  

how cryptic!! not helpful at all as a punter. will see how much lines move down and may need to take a middle. 

Opening my legs very wide tomorrow in newport , Newcastle plus 0.5 is golden. 

Southpaw wrote:

Sharks side really disappointing to see, a mix bag but even a very weak Clermont side have to be taken on the plus.

CLERMONT + 31 @ 10/11

i see some firms have gone up a few pts again, seems clermont will be mostly u20 players. i've cancelled out above on SHARKS -26 @ 10/11, small middle chance. Will shift focus to points. 

Blog updated with weather and Friday night plays 

Bath -12.5 HT cap at 8/10 
Bulls win at 4/1 

Japan League One
Wild Knights -14.5 @1.8
Kubota Spears -19.5 @1.9

BORDEAUX -6.5 @ 17/20

as good as bristol were last week, bordeaux should have scored another 3-4 tries against a good northampton side. it will be an end to end game but feel bordeaux bench makes the bigger impact, and bristol run out of steam.

looking at points overs in this one once out, despite any rain it should be very open.

It's like Christmas all over again , Newcastle plus 4.5 when I was happy with plus a half. I am a little concerned with the drift but am pressing LOL . 

Like Pau on the minus 11.5 whilst at Bath I give Edinburgh more than a sniff with the plus 26.5. 

BENETTON @ 4/1 to win at Lyon jumps out at me. away form is patchy but not sure how much Lyon are up for this one.

Edinburgh Over 13.5pts v Bath @ 4/5
Over 14.5pts v Bath available on Bet365 @ 11/10

Think Bath really hurt Edinburgh tonight.

Bath over 41.5 pts @ 5/6

A couple of Saturday bets up 

Clermont u16.5 19/20 
Stormers 1-12 at 21/10 

Chaps, how many times do I have to tell you? Bet against my beloved Welsh sides at your peril !

I must have told you at least, once before

Quite right Jameson and that statement has indeed impacted my purse this morning , Newcastle hopeless and completely dominated by the Dregs . 

Well done South , Edinburgh were hurt bad by Bath . 

And to round up the evening where I managed 0/3 , the Bulls travelled all the way to Pau to upset their hosts . 

Black Friday imposed LOL 

lol More to the point Coil, how are we going to get out of the hole (my hole was mainly dug last weekend lol) ??

Good luck today and well done Brent with the Bulls.

I hope I am wrong but I can't have the Sharks, till they get a coach and get rid of some of the ego's in the side, they will struggle. Been a supporter since early 80's when in B league and playing Eric Herbert @ the Purple People Eaters. Was lucky to be at the game when we beat the Free State in the Semi Final and were still in the B league, and to me this is one of the poorest Era's of Shark rugby.

So based on this I have taken some of Clermont on +14.5 even though a really weak side. Even taken some 24/1 to win. And no I haven't started drinking early.

I always remember someone here saying he backs coaches, not players, and with this Sharks side so true. I think it was Hanrick. Hope I am wrong and get proven wrong, but so disillusioned with Sharks cant have them.

I totally get where KT is coming from.

i think defence will be optional for both sides in Durban, just not sure how either side is too committed here. 

not a bet I take often at kings park but with pts line at 58 prefer tries overs. 

Over 8.5 tries @ 10/11