Harlequins and the Stormers both lost their opening European Champions Cup matches last week and ahead of their clash at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday it's Quins who are firm favourites with the bookmakers.
Harlequins v Stormers, Saturday 14th December, Twickenham Stoop, KO 22:00 (South African time)
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Evan Urruzmendi (Fra) , Jonathan Gasnier (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Weather Forecast – Twickenham
Harlequins:
Harlequins began their Champions Cup campaign away to Racing 92 and they went down 23-12, scoring 2 tries and conceding 3 and alongside the Stormers and Sale Sharks they failed to earn a log point last week.
In the Premiership Quins are in seventh place with a record of 3 wins and 4 defeats.
In the Champions Cup last season Harlequins won 3 and lost 1 of their pool matches. In the Round of 16 they were 28-24 winners at home to Glasgow Warriors, they won a thrilling quarter final in Bordeaux (42-41) before losing a semi final away to Stade Toulouse 38-26.
Each team plays 4 pool matches and when we resume in January Harlequins will visit Toulon and then host Glasgow Warriors. In the outright betting to win the Champions Cup they are priced at around 100/1
Stormers:
The Stormers opening game came against RC Toulon last week. Port Elizabeth was the venue and the Stormers were -4.5 points on the main handicap line but they lost the match 24-14. The Stormers led 14-10 at half time but lost their way thereafter and the French sside “won” the try count 3-2. Like Harlequins the Stormers have yet to earn a log point in Pool 4 and they are 4 points behind Toulon and Racing and 5 adrift of Glasgow Warriors.
In the Champions Cup last season the Stormers were edged out 21-20 by La Rochelle in Cape Town in the Round of 16. They had finished as runners up to Leinster in their pool with a record of 3 wins and 1 defeat.
When we resume in January the Stormers will host Sale Sharks and they finish up with a visit to Racing 92. In the outright betting to win the Champions Cup the Stormers are priced at around 125/1
Team News
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Luke Northmore, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 James Chisholm, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Hammond, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Harry Browne, 20 Jack Kenningham, 21 Will Evans, 22 Will Porter, 23 Jarrod Evans
Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 JC Mars
The Betting
Updated 14 Dec 08h28
Harlequins -21.5 points at 9/10
Stormers +21.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 13 Dec 16h34
I believe this handicap opened -7.5 Quins overseas on Monday but when the lines opened in SA it was already out to -16.5 on word the Stormers would not be going full strength.
The handicap quickly moved to -19.5 where is stabilized before moving out to the current line of -21.5.
I took some of the -16.5 which was highlighted by a few shrewdies in the forum thread (credit Mondo and Pablo) and will wait for points lines before getting a preview bet down.
Posted 14 Dec 08h34
The weather looks decent and the points line is set at 61.5. There has been no change to the handicap overnight which remains -21.5 although has gone -22.5 in places.
Looking at the Stormers side I think they are going to battle and with the handicap getting large an unders Stormers play is where I believe the value now lies.
Bet: 4 units Stormers u19.5 points at 20/21 at Pokerbet
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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