Heineken Cup Final
Although Leicester were somewhat disappointing in their 10-9 Guinness Premiership triumph over London Irish, Richard Cockerill is expected to name a similar line-up for the Heineken Cup Final to face an in form Leinster on Saturday. Leinster reached their first ever Heineken Cup Final after beating Sporting Index tournament favourites Munster in the semis. The Tigers claimed the Premiership title last weekend and are aiming for their third European Cup to match Toulouse's record. The Sporting Index traders have made Leicester slight favourites on the outright win index spread at 50-51pts (60pts winner, 40pts to runner-up) whilst Leinster are set at 49-50. Buyers of Leinster's index spread might consider themselves up against it - since the first Tigers win in 2001 the title has been shared between the same four sides - Leicester, Wasps, Toulouse and Munster.
The Heineken Cup final has provided much entertainment over the years and there should be plenty of spread betting opportunities during the showcase finale. Spread bettors looking at the total tries market will be interested to know that only two of the 13 finals have failed to produce a try. Buyers and sellers of the spread will also be interested to know that a total of 23 tries have been scored in the finals, with an average of 1.77 tries per match. The Sporting Index traders have found it extremely difficult to separate the sides and the supremacy spread is set at just 0-2pts in favour of Leicester. Spread buyers will be pleased to know in the last seven finals the largest winning margin was 16pts (in 2007) and the narrowest was just last year when Munster triumphed 16-13 over Toulouse. Both buyers and sellers of the supremacy spread might like to note that the average winning margin in finals since 2002 is just less than seven points per game.
Spread bettors interested in the total points markets for the final should note that the highest previous final total is 64, when current finalists Leicester defeated Stade Francais in 2001. During the last seven finals spread punters have seen a total of 245 points scored with an average of 35 points per game. Those buying Leicester's total points spread for the match will likely be aware of the Tigers impressive scoring in the knockout stages, recording at least 20 points in each of their quarter-final and semi-final games.
Buyers of Leinster's win index spread, where 25pts are awarded to the winner plus the number of points scored by that team, will hope the Irish side can overcome their 'so-near-yet-so-far' record in the competition that has seen them defeated four times at the semi-final stages. Spread bettors in support of Leinster will hope for another strong performance from talisman Brian O'Driscoll - the team's captain currently tops the try-scoring charts with five. Another boost for buyers of Leinster's spreads is that Australian Rocky Elsom, who had been a doubt for the game with a minor knee injury, is set to start in the final.
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