European Champions Cup Rugby Preview – 5.30 pm kick off
Round six of the European Champions cup pool stage is really throwing up some tremendous matches. This is one of them. This clash will be for top spot in Pool two with Irish side Munster holding the advantage in the race against Exeter. Exeter not only have to win but they need to deny their opponents any bonus point.
Munster v Exeter odds*
Munster 4/11
Exeter Chiefs 11/5
draw 20/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 17th, 2019 at 4:29 pm)
Munster v Exeter Preview
Munster have played themselves into a strong position heading into the final round of pool stage matches in the European Champions Cup. They have posted a W3 D1 L1 record so far in their campaign and they will be looking to continue some fine home form. They have won both of their games at Thomond Park in the group. A victory secures them top spot while they will also win the group if they lose but collect a bonus point.
At home, the campaign started with a bonus point victory over Gloucester before they cruised to a 30-5 victory over French side Castres. There are only reverse in the campaign so far was a surprise 13-12 defeat out at Castres in the fourth round of action. The Irish side were kept off the try scoresheet in the match. However, they responded emphatically in their final match with a huge win at Gloucester.
Exeter have a big uphill task ahead of them to win this group. They have to take the away win which would see them top Munster is the head-to-head between the two sides. Exeter were held to a 10-10 draw at home when they faced Munster in round one of pool action. They follow that up with a narrow loss at Castres and then after a defeat at home against Gloucester in their next match, the Chiefs were on the back foot in the group.
But Exeter have responded well in the last two rounds of action in the pool securing back-to-back wins over Gloucester and then last week against Castres. Exeter also picked up a bonus point in both of those and they have been important to get them to within a shot of winning the group in this sixth and final match of the campaign.
Because the two sides drew in the first match as long as Exeter win this game without giving up the bonus point then they will top the group over Munster. If Munster lose there is a chance that they could squeeze through as one of the best second-placed finishers from the pool stage, but they would likely need to secure a bonus point in defeat for that to happen.
Munster v Exeter Prediction
Munster have the strength on home soil to do what they need to do to get the victory in this one to secure top spot in the group. They are not likely to let that home advantage slip through their fingers. A Munster -6 handicap is at 10/11 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 17th, 2019 at 4:29 pm)
