Racing 92 vs Edinburgh
Racing 92 have been a been one of the most stand out performers in the Champions Cup and were desperately unlucky to lose in the final last year to the Exeter Chiefs. They have been in 3 of the last 5 finals but sadly on the losing side each year. There is no disgrace in losing in the finals to European giants like Saracens, Leinster and now the Chiefs. They will surely want to go one better and win the title that they have been so agonizingly close to on three occasions. Edinburgh best foray into the Champions Cup was way back in 2012 when they lost in the semifinals to Ulster. The Racing team will be without their talisman flyhalf Finn Russell who is out suspended and this is a big loss as he is world class. I’m sure this will give the Scottish side some and this Edinburgh side contains many Scottish national team players that upset France recently. This will also give them a boost and although beating Racing will be a major shock, at least this should be a closer match than many people think.
TIP: Racing for all their international stars haven’t set the world alight this season and Edinburgh will be quietly confident. I know this will rank as one of the biggest upsets in the Champions Cup history but I will have a small wager on Edinburgh. They have arguably the best finisher in Europe right now in Duhan Van der Merwe and have a brilliant flanker Hamish Watson who dominated the Six Nations. My heart says Edinburgh but my head says Racing 92 so therefore I will tip Racing 92 to win by a single digit margin. The best value bet is on the Edinburgh handicap and these are the best odds on the handicaps: Worldsportsbetting 1.90 (+15.5), Playabets 1.86(+14.5) and Sunbet 1.82(+13.5).
HEAD TO HEAD STATS
Racing 92 vs Edinburgh
- In their 4 previous meetings there have been two wins apiece.
- Both teams have 1 home win and one away win.
- Their last meeting was won 15-3 by Racing 92.
Latest results for both teams
Racing 92 lost their last match 23-13 to Bayonne while Edinburgh lost their last match 24-17 to the Dragons
PREDICTION
This Edinburgh team has developed steel and a fighting spirit under the coaching of Richard Cockerill and this will no doubt be the best opportunity to show their wares against one of the tournament favorites. The Scottish side will need their forwards to man up against a powerful Racing 92 eight and if they can achieve parity then I believe this match could go either way. The experience of European competition should see Racing 92 through with a win less than 10 points
Probable Starting XVs
Racing 92
15 Simon Zebo, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Olivier Klemenczak, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 A Gilbert, 9 Teddy Iribaren (captain), 8 Antonie Claassen, 7 Fabien Sanconnie, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Georges Henri Colombe, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Eddy Ben Arous
Edinburgh
15 Damien Hoyland, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 James Johnstone, 12 George Taylor, 11 Duhan Van Der Merwe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Nic Groom (cc), 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Nick Haining, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Magnus Bradbury, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman (cc)
Odds for this bet
This match will go down to the wire therefore I think Edinburgh on the handicap is a great bet. These are the best bets on the various Edinburgh handicaps
Worldsportsbetting (+15.5) 1.90
Sunbet (+13.5) 1.82
Supabets (+14.5) 1.86
Odds comparison on the Edinburgh handicaps
The best odds on the Edinburgh handicaps are as follows:
Worldsportsbetting (+15.5) 1.90
Sunbet (+13.5) 1.82
Supabets (+14.5) 1.86
Predictions and Odds in details
Edinburgh will have to show that Braveheart spirit in this daunting match and nobody typifies that spirit more than flanker tearaway Hamish Watson .He lays his body on the line in every match he plays be it for club or country and if his teammates can do the same then we in for a cracker of a match. The bookies don’t give Edinburgh much chance but that’s what they said about Scotland against France last week and we all know how that ended. I fancy a small wager on an Edinburgh upset at 6.5/1 with Worldsportsbetting. The banker bet for me is the following Edinburgh handicaps. Worldsportsbetting 1.90(+15.5), Playabets 1.86(+14.5) and Sunbet 1.82(+13.5)
Sports crazy fan that follows all major sport but the game with the oval ball is my real passion. Was an age level rugby coach and a huge supporter of the Springboks and diehard Liverpool man. I’m an experienced punter and sports writer whose predictions/tips are sure to stir up the emotions. I love the occasional wager on the underdog.
