Clermont vs Sale Sharks
16th January 2022 – Kick Off 1730hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Sharks +10 Handicap
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 08:29 GMT on January 14th, 2022
Sale Sharks will be looking to get an important victory away at Clermont on Sunday in the Heineken Cup Rugby.
Sale have lost their last two against the Top14 team and will bolster their position in the Pool stage if they can buck the trend and win in France.
Clermont arrive back into European action having already lost on home turf in this season’s competition. Will Sale be able to take them down?
Table of Contents
Clermont Preview – Home win for Clermont?
Top14 side Clermont are strong odds-on match favourites for Sunday’s European Champions Cup clash with Sale Sharks.
Clermont have played one game in the Pool stage so far this season.
That ended in a home defeat upon the visit of Ulster.
In the match outright for Sunday’s fixture against Sale, Clermont are 2/7 odds-on* (odds recorded 2000 GMT, Wednesday 8 January at 888Sport).
The overall form of Clermont has been hit and miss recently.
They have alternated between a win and loss in their last eight matches in all tournaments.
But there has been more consistency in their home form without question.
Clermont have won six of their last seven on home turf.
However, this season’s loss there against Ulster was their fourth straight home defeat in the competition.
Clermont are currently on their longest losing streak at home in the competition with those four losses.
Remarkably, before this massive slump, they had won 35 of their previous 37.
This will be the fifth meeting between Clermont and Sale Sharks in the Heineken Cup.
One positive for them is that they have won the last two against Sale Sharks (home and away).
The last time that they hosted them in 2014, Clermont ran out 35-3 winners.
It’s a W1 L1 home record that the Top14 side have against the Sharks.
A Clermont -11 handicap is at a quote of 5/6 for rugby betting* (odds recorded 2000 GMT, Wednesday 8 January at 888Sport).
Sale Sharks Preview – Can Sharks pass a tough test?
Premiership Rugby side Sale Sharks have largely struggled to put consistent efforts together this season.
Things have been looking up a little more for them recently.
The Sharks have won three of their last five in all competitions.
In their one Heineken Cup match for this season, Sale took an away win at Ospreys.
They are a big underdog quote of 11/4 to land the victory on Sunday* (odds recorded 2000 GMT, Wednesday 8 January at 888Sport).
Given that Clermont aren’t exactly rocking things on the European front, why are Sale big underdogs?
It’s their lack of away form in the competition. Particularly in France.
Sale Sharks have lost their last nine matches in the competition across the Channel.
Not only that, Sale lost by an average margin of 21 points in that sequence.
But there is a small positive that they can take into the weekend’s action.
Their win at Ospreys was their third straight road win in the Heineken Champions Cup.
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Sale Sharks had lost fourteen straight away games in the Heineken Cup before this little upward swing.
Still, the overall picture makes them look a little bit vulnerable on the weekend.
Sale have won only one of their last ten away matches in all tournaments (D1 L8).
They are going to do very well to keep this close at the Stade Marcel Michelin.
A Sharks +10 handicap is at 10/11 for rugby betting* (odds recorded 2000 GMT, Wednesday 8 January at 888Sport).
Clermont vs Sale Sharks Betting Advice
Clermont have really dropped their standards on home turf in the Champions Cup, but can be backed to win this one.
Their overall form is decent at the Stade Marcel Michelin this season and have beaten Sale the last twice.
Wide margins on the scoreboard don’t necessarily look as if they are going to be in play in this one.
So we are pulling for the Sharks +10 handicap* (odds recorded 2000 GMT, Wednesday 8 January at 888Sport).
Key Facts – Clermont vs Sale Sharks Betting Tip
- Clermont are W2 L2 from their four previous meetings with Sale in the competition
- Clermont have lost their last four European Champions Cup home fixtures
- Sale Sharks have lost their last nine matches away in France
Sale frankly have a terrible record in France, but at least their European away form is on the up.
This is going to be a much sterner test than they faced at Ospreys earlier in the Pool.
The visitors are likely to leave empty-handed, but with Clermont not in hot form, the visitors can at least keep it close.
The best betting odds for Clermont vs Sale Sharks
Clermont to win: 2/7 at Bet365
Draw: 22/1 at Bet365
Sale Sharks to win: 11/4 at Bet365
