Toulon and Montpellier to lead French Heineken Cup charge

Both matches in Pool Six feature in the final batch of fixtures in the second gameweek of the Heineken Cup, with French double act Toulon and Montpellier both primed for victory.

Munster (-13) to beat Edinburgh @ 10/11

Munster can arguably only blame themselves for their marginal defeat to Racing Metro in their Pool One opener, but they can get back on the winning bandwagon against Edinburgh.

Inconsistent Munster may also be without Ronan O’Gara, but they have won both of their home games in the RaboDirect and Edinburgh will not be particularly high on confidence after their 45-0 demolition by Saracens in their first pool encounter.

Munster are 1/8 to win, but have covered 13 points in their two home successes so can do so again.

Toulon (-8) to win at Cardiff @ 10/11

After a narrow defeat to Sale, the pressure is ramped up on Cardiff, but their chances are boosted by news that they will be unchanged as captain Sam Warburton is fit after suffering a dislocated finger.

However, they face one of the strongest squads in world rugby and have already suffered three home defeats this season – to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ulster.

Toulon picked up a bonus point in their victory over Montpellier and should triumph again, covering the handicap in the process.

Cardiff are 5/2 to beat the French table-toppers and can fall back on having only lost once in 17 European home games, dating back to December 2006.

Ospreys (+8) to beat Leicester @ 10/11

Ospreys have not played at Welford Road since a 32-32 draw in 2009 and will fancy their chances of finishing within eight points again.

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill believes his club need to win all five remaining pool matches to progress after a defeat at Toulouse.

But they have started fairly well in the Aviva Premiership and can beat Ospreys, albeit by a small margin.

Montpellier (-14) to beat Sale @ 10/11

Danny Cipriani is set to start for Sale after inspiring the opening comeback against Cardiff, but winning in France is not always easy and Richie Gray will be a big loss because of an ankle injury.

In total, Sale make eight changes from the Cardiff clash, but Montpellier are 1/10 to triumph as they bid to make amends for their defeat in their all-French meeting with Toulon.

Montpellier have named their strongest squad possible and with Sale conceding three tries in a 15-minute spell against Cardiff, an open defence of this nature will allow the hosts to eclipse a 14-point handicap.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date