Bookies Make Leicester Favourites
Martin Johnson’s English champions Leicester Tigers have been installed as 8/13 favourites to account for Irish challengers Munster, and retain the trophy that they won last year.
William Hill have tipped the Tigers in Saturday’s big game, this despite Munster’s impressive wins over Stade Francais and Castres to reach the final, coach Declan Kidney’s Munstermen priced 13/10 for a win which would in no means be regarded as a shock, with two of the top dogs in club rugby locking horns in what is set to be a classic in front of a record breaking crowd.
In the handicap market, Munster have been given a four-point head start, both sides priced 10/11 as Leicester aim to put behind them last weekend’s home defeat to Bristol – their first home loss for more than four years.
A 1-5 point win for Leicester is the forecast scoreline at the betting offices at 4/1, with a 6-10 point triumph next in at 9/2. A Munster victory by 1-5 points comes in third-favourite at 5/1, with both forward packs set to have a massive say on proceedings.
Leicester started the competition back in September as 9-4 favourites to retain their European crown, Munster then 7/1 third-favourites behind the side they knocked out at the quarter-final stage – Stade Francais.