On the up: Stade Français
Round One of the 09/10 Heineken Cup certainly threw up shocks, thrills and spills and if you followed our Tipster then that trio of words would have concluded with one high and one low.
Backtracking to last Friday and the bookies had swiftly begun to realise the error in their ways by shifting Toulouse's initial handicap of 14 points up to 19 before -20 on Saturday afternoon. Who knows where it finished by the first whistle?
And with Guy Novès' classy outfit racing into a 36-3 lead against Sale's second string with well under a quarter of the game remaining, we wouldn't have blamed you for raising a smile.
But the exuberance of youth pulled the Sharks back to a 19-point defeat while our 'Worth a shot' saw Ulster get off on the strongest of foots against Bath in their quest to claim Pool Four at what started at 25s.
Round Two all looks rather exciting so let us see if the Tipster can put a smile on your face as Planet Rugby's advice compliments Sky Bet's abundance of European markets!
Banker of the week
Stade Français are on the up after what was a nightmare start to their Top 14 campaign.
Led by the titanic Sergio Parisse in front of Julien Dupuy and Lionel Beauxis, the colourful Parisian machine is now have a strong chance of lifting the Heineken Cup.
Their impressive effort at home to Edinburgh has certainly done their confidence a power of good ahead of this trip to the West Country while Bath on the other hand seem to be desperately needing the return of one of their Butch James, Olly Barkley axis.
Which is why I've gone for Stade Français!
Worth a shot
Much like Round One, I feel it could be another feast on Sunday with Clermont Auvergne and Stade Français visiting the Ospreys and Bath in that order in the schedule.
Sean Holley's side finally found form at Welford Road last weekend but trailed off towards the end to conclude a captivating 32-32 draw, while Clermont picked up all five points in what became a cruise at home to Viadana.
A week on then and the French outfit have recalled Brock James, Napolini Nalaga and Benoît Baby as the Ospreys must do without Lee Byrne, which is why I feel the refreshed visitors will nick what would be a priceless victory on the road.
Get on Clermont to edge out the Ospreys!
Hail Mary
Just the eight teams in our fourth and long this weekend so here we go...
Perpignan, Biarritz, Ulster, Leinster, Sharks, Blue Bulls, Clermont, Stade Français
Anything take your fancy?
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