La Rochelle vs Sale Sharks
10th April 1500hrs
Rugby – England – Heineken Cup
Pick Sale Sharks+7 handicap
Bookmaker Betfred
Odds: Evens odds taken 11:12 GMT on April 9th, 2021
We have a cracking match here for Heineken Cup rugby betting on Saturday afternoon.
Premiership side Sale Sharks head across the Channel to take on La Rochelle in a great-looking encounter.
But the Sharks are the underdogs and have a big task on their hands to try and reach the semi-finals.
Table of Contents
La Rochelle Preview – French side to progress
There was a routine victory for La Rochelle in the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup.
It was a 27-16 win for them over Gloucester Rugby away at Kingsholm.
They go back into action against another English side this weekend as they face Sale Sharks on home turf.
In the match outright for this one in rugby betting, La Rochelle are 2/5 odds-on* (odds recorded 11:12 GMT on April 9th, 2021).
La Rochelle claimed 9 points from their two Pool stage picking up a bonus point in the process.
Their victory over Gloucester last weekend leaves them with a W3 L2 record in their last five fixtures in all competitions.
Only twice in that run of five fixtures did they manage to score more than 20 points in a fixture.
This will be the third time that they have met Sale Sharks in the Heineken Cup, with them having traded home wins in the 2019/20 Pool Stage.
La Rochelle have won all but one of the last five completed fixtures in the competition (L1).
That’s as many as they claimed in their first 10 in the Heineken Cup. So they are a team on the up.
On home turf, they have a W4 L2 record in the competition and three of those wins were against Premiership teams.
There is a quote of even money on a La Rochelle -6 handicap at the moment for Saturday’s clash* (odds recorded 11:12 GMT on April 9th, 2021).
Interestingly, their last two home fixtures in the tournament have been won by the side who were trailing at the half time break.
Sale Sharks Preview – No easy task for the Sharks
This is a very tough quarter-final draw for Sale Sharks, but they were rampant away from home last weekend.
The Sharks paid a visit to Scarlets and soared away to a massive 57-14 victory on the road.
That was their third straight win in all competitions and their fourth in their last five.
Sales are therefore in a great bit of form at the moment. In three of their last five games, they have scored at least 30 points.
Twice in their last three fixtures played in all competition, they have tallied at least 40 points in a fixture.
So they have the scoring threat in them.
But can they pull off a victory in France on the weekend?
Sale Sharks are the 5/2 underdogs in Heineken Cup rugby betting* (odds recorded 11:12 GMT on April 9th, 2021).
Their win at Scarlets snapped a run of 14 defeats for them out on the road in the Heineken Cup.
It was also the first time that they had produced more than 40 points in an away fixture in the competition.
This on paper, is a much stiffer challenge, however.
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Only twice before have Sale Sharks claimed consecutive away wins in the Heineken Champions Cup.
On the two previous occasions that they were on a hattrick of away successes, their hopes were dashed by French opposition.
This is the second time in the quarter-final stage of the competition for Sale, the previous happening in the 2005/06 season.
Sales do have some positive current forms behind them. They might have impressed last weekend with a fluent cutting edge.
There is a quote of even money on a Shark’s +7 handicap for the game* (odds recorded 11:12 GMT on April 9th, 2021).
La Rochelle vs Sale Sharks Betting Advice
Both La Rochelle and Sale Sharks impressed in their respective matches last weekend, so this could be the highlight match of the round.
Sales have enough about them to produce a strong challenge we feel, but away days like this in Europe are not easy.
But we think that the Sale Sharks +7 handicap is the way to go for Heineken Cup rugby betting at evens* (odds recorded 11:12 GMT on April 9th, 2021).
Key Facts – La Rochelle vs Sale Sharks Betting Tip
- La Rochelle have won 4 of 6 home fixtures in the competition
- La Rochelle are W3 L1 at home against English opposition in the tournament
- Sale Sharks have won 1 of their last 15 away games in the Heineken Cup
La Rochelle have a good home record against English opposition in the competition, winning three of four.
So we are sticking with them to come up with the victory, it’s been four wins from their last five in the competition, home and away combined.
La Rochelle 1-10 winning margin at 2/1 takes it for us* (odds recorded 11:12 GMT on April 9th, 2021).
The best betting odds for La Rochelle vs Sale Sharks
La Rochelle to win: 4/9 at Bet365
Draw: 25/1 at Bet365
Sale Sharks to win: 10/11 at Bet365
