Exeter vs Racing 92
17th October 16:45hrs
Rugby – England – Heineken Cup
Pick Exeter -5 handicap
Bookmaker Betfred
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October
This is the big one then, the European Challenge Cup Final. English Premiership side Exeter will be looking to take the crown for the first time.
After such an impressive season with still the Premiership title to play for against Wasps, the Chiefs are still well on course for the double.
Racing 92 however, will pose them a threat or two, having shown some great late resilience in the semi finals to eliminate the reigning champions Saracens.
Can the Chiefs get that Heineken Cup crown into their trophy cabinet finally?
Table of Contents
Exeter Preview -The Chiefs look unstoppable
What a season this could turn out to be for the Chiefs. They have already secured their place in the Premiership final against Wasps.
But before that domestic action swings around, they have the chance to take the first leg of a huge double.
They face up to Racing 92 for the Heineken Cup final and in the rugby betting for it, Exeter are the strong 4/9 odds-on favourites.
This fixture is being played at Ashton Gate and like their opponents, the Chiefs are in search of their first Champions Cup crown.
It has been some massively impressive form in Europe from Exeter this season.
Exeter took a W5 D1 record from their six pool stage games in this season’s tournament
That left them as second-seeds for the knockouts stage.
Exeter had a comfortable time in easing past Northampton Saints 38-15 at the quarter finals stage.
Then in the semi finals they came up big in seeing off French opposition Toulouse 28-18.
This will be the first meeting between Exeter and Racing 92 in European competition.
From the seven previous Anglo-French European Champions Cup Final meetings, Premiership clubs are W5 L2.
So that is a huge statistics in favour of Exeter.
A Chiefs -5 handicap can be taken at 5/6* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October).
The Chiefs cruised to top spot in the Premiership this season, looking at back to back losses to end that domestic campaign, results which can be ignored.
They were meaningless matches for Exeter and they weren’t at full strength.
Aside from that, they have been imperious and we would expect them to handle the pressure of the biggest game in the history of the club.
Racing 92 Preview – Can Racing 92 make it third-time lucky?
Racing have been to the final of the European Champions Cup twice before and on both occasions missed out on the title.
Those near-misses for them happened in 2016 against Saracens and then in 2018 against Leinster, the latter by only a three-point margin.
In the pool stage of this campaign Racing 92 collected a W4 D1 L1 record which saw them qualifying for the quarter finals as the 5th seed.
They were the lowest ranked of the pool winners that made it through.
In the quarter finals they were paired up against Clermont. That turned out to be a great battle, Racing’s scoring power getting them through 36-27.
It was the reigning champions Saracens that stood in their path in the semi finals and that was an even better fixture.
Only a try in the 76th minute by captain Juan Imhoff saw the French club take a dramatic last-gasp victory.
That match was a tight war of attrition and one thing Racing managed to do was to keep Saracens from scoring a try in the fixture.
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Racing 92 do have their strengths and they look a very good blend of youth and experience.
They have been sequestered away in their bubble after having had some positive test results, but they have the all-clear now for Saturday.
Virimi Vakatawa leads this season’s European Champions Cup for both clean breaks and defenders beaten.
Vakatawa is at 11/4 in the anytime tryscorer market* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October).
He is one of the biggest threats to the Exeter back line.
But given the occasion of this being such a high-profile game we expect things to be tight and cautious.
It may be worth recalling that Racing’s domestic season was cut short in June.
So they have only had their two matches in the European Champions Cup since along with fixtures in the new TOP 14 since early September.
Exeter vs Racing 92 Betting Advice
Exeter have to be backed for success on Saturday. As long as they go out and do their thing and not let the pressure of the occasion get to them, they should be fine.
The lack of a crowd could help there, and the Exeter Chiefs do look head and shoulders the best team in Europe currently.
They are the complete package really and we would swing with the -5 handicap at 10/11 on them* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October).
Key Facts – Exeter vs Racing 92 Betting Tip
- Exeter are in their first Heineken Cup Final
- Exeter are unbeaten in this season’s campaign
- Racing 92 have lost their two previous Champions Cup final appearances
In last weekend’s Premiership semi final, Bath battered Exeter in the early stages, but the Chiefs never crumbled.
After weathering an early storm, they just powered their way to a 35-6 victory.
We are looking at a Chiefs 1-12 winning margin at 11/8 for some rugby betting value* (odds taken 04:54 GMT Thursday, 15th October).
Racing 92 had a huge moment in knocking out Saracens in the last round, but that Heineken Cup may well evade them again.
The best betting odds for Exeter vs Racing 92
Exeter to win: 4/9 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Racing 92 to win: 15/8 at Bet365
