Heineken Cup / Geoffrey Riddle / 08 October 2009 / Leave a comment

The world's premier rugby competition roars into life this Friday and, with Harlequins sullying the good name of the tournament with their 'Bloodgate' scandal last season, the 15th Heineken Cup will be a cathartic process for all, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Munster’s [5.8] favouritism owes much to the fact that their pedigree in this tournament is sublime and Pool One looks there for the taking.

For punters who like a good trading proposition, there is none better this season than Biarritz.

The Basques look the ultimate back-to-lay prospect in this year's tournament. If you look at the outright market, the French side are around [23.0] to back. That level mirrors the best-prices on the high street. If you look at the two firms that go highest about Biarritz, it is the Irish duo of Boylesports and Paddy Power, who are predictably short about last year's winners Leinster.

Only Leinster absolutely hammered Munster last week, and the 30-0 scoreline makes the fact that Munster are shorter in the outright betting sit very uncomfortably.

Biarritz are as short as 12-1 with some high street layers, which would be the biting point between backing and laying in my book. Biarritz are in tremendous form having strung together five wins in a row, a perfect tonic to their injury-ravaged opening home defeat to high-flying Castres. On the esteemed Euro Rugby ratings service they are ranked as the sixth-best team in Europe, and what's more, they look to have one of the most straight-forward pools of the lot.

Magners minnows Newport-Gwent Dragons and Glasgow Warriors lie fifth and seventh respectively and are therefore unlikely to pose much of a problem. Glasgow boasted a proud unbeaten record at Firhill stretching back to April before they were beaten there 26-16 by the Ospreys in a commanding second-half display two weeks ago. They beat Biarritz 9-6 there two years ago, but circumstances are very different this time around and their away record is shocking.

The other team in Pool Two is Gloucester. This season the Cherry and Whites have been like a parody of the curate's egg - bad in parts, and absolutely atrocious in others. Although the change of tournament may well invigorate them, their old stalwart, Iain Balshaw, is now down in south-west France, and the Frenchies are sure to have all the information they need on his former colleagues.

Given that South Africa's kick and pressurise strategy is all the rage in world rugby, it is interesting to watch the Basques play a game based on possession, which could easily strangle the effectiveness of incisive winger Thom Evans against Glasgow in Saturday's live game.

Biarritz aren't one trick ponies either, and their kicking game is exceptional. Dimitri Yachvili and Damien Traille have an excellent repertoire with the boot, as do Julien Peyrelongue and Argentinian Marcelo Bosch, who can also kick at goal. Their prized winger, Takudzwa Ngwenya, is a magnificent asset to any side, and if you can't remember how he skinned Bryan Habana at the World Cup in 2007, click here.

It is hard to see why Biarritz aren't odds-on for their section, and they look more likely than the prices suggest to get that crucial home draw in the knockout stages. There looks to be significant mileage in their price.

No winner of the Heineken Cup has had fewer than 70 points on the Euro Rugby ratings table since the service began for the 2000-2001 season. That would suggest that Stade Francais, who have sacked former Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie, wouldn't have the greatest chance. They look a lay at [10.0].

This doesn't look the strongest Stade Francais squad, and better sides from the French capital have bombed out at short prices before in this tournament. Bath's free-flowing rugby is also sure to create problems for the Parisians in Pool Four, much like Harlequins did last year when they did the double over the lurid pink shirts.

Munster's favouritism owes much to the fact that their pedigree in this tournament is sublime and Pool One looks there for the taking. Although European Challenge Cup winners Northampton have proved their worth this season, Perpignan have not in the Top 14, and Treviso are likely to take several heavy beatings.

In contrast, Leicester and Clermont have to battle it out for top dog status in Pool Three, as do London Irish and Leinster in Pool 6, and the winners of those pools will have a very strong hand in the knockout stages. That leaves Toulouse as the other side with an easier path to the knockout stages on paper, and it is no surprise to see the French giants trade at [8.0] second-favourites.

Punters should be aware that the match ball in the Heineken Cup will not be the Gilbert ball that is used in both the Guinness Premiership and the Magners League. Adidas will be the match ball providers throughout the tournament. The ball will be similar to that used by New Zealand, and for a full breakdown of what this might mean click here.

Tags: Bath rugby, Geoffrey Riddle, Heineken Cup rugby betting, Leicester Tigers, Leinster rugby, Munster rugby, Perpignan rugby, Toulouse rugby