Ospreys vs Sale Sharks
Ospreys and Sale will kick off their Champions Cup match on Sunday with both teams missing some key players. The home team are without Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones while the Sharks are missing Faf De Klerk and Manu Tuilagi. Ospreys seem to have the edge in the backline with international players all over while the Sharks certainly have the advantage in the forwards. Sale will be looking to go one better than last year when they lost in the quarter finals. They certainly have the personnel to win the competition but the question remains can they play as a team.
TIP: Both teams have international halfback pairings and they will play a crucial role in the outcome of this game. Ospreys are a very forward dominated team and in this match they may want to change that tactic as the Sharks have a much stronger pack. The Sharks game plan is to suffocate the opposition in the forwards and they will be able to lay a platform for their backline. The bookies have Sale Sharks as favourites and I’m also tipping them for the victory. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Worldsportsbetting 1.75, Playabets 1.75 and Sunbet 1.74
HEAD TO HEAD STATS
Ospreys vs Sale Sharks
- These teams have only met once before and the home team Ospreys won the match 37-36.
Latest results for both teams
Ospreys won their last match 19-13 against Ulster while the Sharks lost 25-14 to Saracens.
PREDICTION
Sale will be counting on the two sets of twins to dominate at the breakdown as the Curry and Du Preez boys have been excellent this season. Throw Lood De Jager into the mix and you have an engine room that will rival most national teams. The Ospreys are renowned for having a resolute defence and they will need to be at their best to keep out the Sharks and their powerhouse pack. The Sharks also have the dangerous Marlande Yarde lurking on the wings and his battle with Alex Cuthbert will be brilliant. The overall quality in the Sharks pack makes me predict an away win by 9 points.
- Probable Starting XVs
Ospreys
15 Mat Protheroe, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Rhys Webb (c), 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Will Griffiths, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Gareth Thomas
Sale Sharks
15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Raffi Quirke, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Tom Curry (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jean-Luc du Preez, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Bevan Rodd
Odds for this bet
The best odds on the Sale Sharks victory are as follows:
Worldsportsbetting 1.75
Playabets 1.75
Sunbet 1.74
Odds comparison on the Sale Sharks handicap victory :
The complete odds on the Sale Sharks handicap victory:
Worldsportsbetting (-2.5) 1.90
Sunbet (-2.5) 1.88
Playabets (-2.5) 1.87
Predictions and Odds in details
Both teams enjoy keeping the ball with the forwards and kicking for territory but this will be a futile exercise for Ospreys as the power of Sale will be too much for them. I think their best chance is to try and run the ball and they have an attacking halfback pairing that is very comfortable doing that. There is decent returns on the Sharks outright win therefore I suggest the away team on the generous handicap. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Worldsportsbetting (-2.5) 1.90, Sunbet (-2.5) 1.88 and Playabets (-2.5) 1.87
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.
