Sale Sharks vs Clermont
18th December 1515hrs
Rugby – England – European Champions Cup
Pick Clermont +8 handicap
Bookmaker Betfred
Odds: Even Money odds taken 20:39 GMT on December 16th, 2021
Sale Sharks made a winning start to this seasons’ European Champions Cup with a victory away at Ospreys.
Can they double up when they play those to Clermont on the weekend, which looks like a tougher challenge?
Clermont need to come up with a response in this pool stage match having lost their opener at home.
Table of Contents
Sale Sharks Preview – Can the Sharks claim the home win?
After posting a 21-13 away win at Ospreys last weekend, Sale Shark have a chance to push on.
It’s French opposition up next for them on Saturday as they host Clermont.
There has not been a lot of consistency around Sale’s season in all competitions.
They have lost six of their last ten matches in all tournaments.
So this is not a cut and dry affair on the weekend.
But in the match outright for rugby betting, Sale Sharks are the 4/11 odds-on favourite* (odds recorded 20:39 GMT on December 16th, 2021).
The Premiership side do not particularly have great recent home form in the competition at the AJ Bell.
Sale Sharks have won 2 of their last 12 Heineken Cup home matches.
But out of that poor sequence of form, there is actually a positive for Sale Sharks.
Those two wins in the sequence happened against French visitors.
Sale Sharks and Clermont have faced each other in four previous meetings.
The Sharks won the first two matches, but then it was Clermont who dominated the two most recent meetings in the 2014/15 season.
All four previous matches have been in the pool stage of the Heineken Cup.
A big positive for the Sharks is their overall form at the AJ Bell.
In all competitions, the Sharks have won nine of their last ten there.
A Sale Sharks -8 handicap is at a quote of 10/11 for rugby betting* (odds recorded 20:39 GMT on December 16th, 2021).
Clermont Preview – Visitors will challenge
Clermont will be looking for better returns this weekend as they visit Sale Sharks in the Heineken Cup.
Last weekend’s pool stage opener ended in defeat for them.
Clermont went down 23-29 on home turf against Ulster.
So that was a blow to their European hopes right out of the gate.
But it sums up Clermont’s season pretty well because they have struggled for consistency.
Clermont are W5 L5 in their last ten matches in all competitions.
In the match outright for Heineken Cup rugby betting, the win for Clermont is at a quote of 2/1* (odds recorded 20:39 GMT on December 16th, 2021).
To their credit though they do have some away form in Europe under their belt.
They have lost their last four away matches in this competition.
So they are capable of raising a challenge on the weekend.
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The last seven European Champions Cup matches that Clermont have been involved in, have produced a win on the day for the road team.
Clermont do have clear room for improvement on their travels.
They have lost nine of their last ten Top14 away matches for example.
There is a quote of even money on them to defend a +8 handicap in this one* (odds recorded 20:39 GMT on December 16th, 2021).
Both of their previous visits to the AJ Bell (W1 L1) were settled by a margin of exactly nine points.
Sale Sharks vs Clermont Betting Advice
Sale Sharks have to be worth a look in this one because of some good form at the AJ Bell.
This on paper looks to be a tougher game than last weekend’s trip to Osprey’s was.
But Sale can get through the challenge, but the Clermont +8 handicap is the way to go at evens* (odds recorded 20:39 GMT on December 16th, 2021).
Key Facts – Sale Sharks vs Clermont Betting Tip
- Sale Sharks have won 9 of their last 10 home matches in all competitions
- Sale Sharks are W2 L2 in the head to head with Clermont
- Clermont have won their last four European Champions Cup road matches
The French side do have away form in Europe behind them and may be able to stick in there.
But we see Clermont coming up a little short as there has been next to no positive away form by them this season.
The Sale Sharks 1-10 winning margin is the rugby betting pick at 11/2* (odds recorded 20:39 GMT on December 16th, 2021).
The best betting odds for Sale Sharks vs Clermont
Sale Sharks to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Clermont to win: 2/1 at Bet365
