Never mind who wins today’s Heineken Cup final. The very fact that it will be contested by Biarritz and Toulouse confirms the recent French domination in rugby union. However that will not satisfy British punters, so we ought to take a look at the betting markets for the Heineken Cup final.

Toulouse are available to back at odds of 4/11 with Corals and Stan James, which makes them the overwhelming favourites to win a record fourth Heineken Cup today. Thierry Dusautoir’s team-mates ended a seven year trophy drought in 2008, and have since gone from strength to strength.

Today’s favourites were available to back at 5/1 before this tournament had even begun, and you would imagine that plenty of backers will be delighted to be holding betting slips with those ‘fancy’ odds. However punters seeking out a value bet today are not going to get rich quickly by betting £110 to win £40 profit on a Toulouse win.

Stade Toulousain lost the 2008 Heineken Cup final by 3 points, and there will be plenty who will side with a Biarritz win, which is priced at 100/30 with Irish bookmaker Boylesports. Totesport do not think that the match will end in a draw, and are trying to tempt punters with a 25/1 quote on the most unlikely outcome.

Centre Damien Traille has been ruled out of the final, but the news that Imanol Harinordoquy is fit for action is a big boost for the underdogs.

The France number 8 has won the Six Nations five times, and is a 22/1 chance with William Hill to score the first try of the match. Unsurprisingly, the bookies make Toulouse winger Vincent Clerc their 12/1 favourite in that popular market

Wingers have the best chance of registering the first try, but English punters may be tempted to have a dabble on either 20/1 Iain Balshaw or 28/1 Magnus Lund, who both play for Biarritz.

Odds compilers at Bet365 expect Toulouse to win the big match by 7 points, which is their handicap line. If you head down to Ladbrokes before the match begins, you can bet on Biarritz to win with a 20 point head start at odds of 1/8.

Toulouse are 20/1 with Paddy Power to win the Heineken Cup final to nil, and are 4/6 to win the race to 10 points.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing rugby union betting odds.

Biarritz Olympique v Stade Toulousain Match Betting

Biarritz Olympique v Stade Toulousain Handicap Betting

Biarritz Olympique v Stade Toulousain First Tryscorer Betting

Like all big betting events, it makes sense to start with the favourites. Should we be backing 2/1 Wales, or be looking to take them on?

Last year’s winners Wales have been backed from 5/2 into 2/1, and are 6/1 for the Grand Slam. They may not have the best team on paper, but confidence will be brimming with the solid club performances of both the Ospreys and the Blues.

Ladbrokes are ducking the favourites by only offering 7/4, but I’d be looking to take them on, maybe as early as this Sunday. They are 1/2 for their away trip to Scotland, but I’d would opt for the home side on the handicap (+6) for value’s sake.

England aren’t of interest, even at 9/2. Then got trounced in the autumn internationals, but that was hardly surprising. Martin Johnson’s side haven’t had the best press, and brave selections such as Andy Goode are already being questioned before the tournament. They also have a difficult schedule, but expect them to make light work of Italy at 1/7.

In the outright winner market, I am caught up between France and Ireland – both 7/2. We’ll know more about the 2 sides after he clash in Saturday’s Croke Park fixture, but by then one of the 2 sides could be the new favourite.

French clubs have given a terrible showing in the Heineken Cup, but the international side are more than capable of pulling this off. Having been 4th in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, they have slipped down the world rankings to 7th. If they are well organised and if Lionel Beauxis is kicking well, 11/8 to beat Ireland will look lke a massive price.

French coach Marc Lièvremont is focused on the 2011 World Cup, meaning that I shall side with 7/2 IRELAND. If they win the match against France, they wil grow in confidence and give Wales a run for their money. Declan Kidney is a great tactician, who will be relying on his Munster pack and Brian O’Driscoll.

They beat Argentina 17-3 last November and are a fit team; so could be worth an in-running investment should they find themselves trailing in a match. Their recent away record is concerning, especially as they travel to both Scotland and Wales.

Italy are the 4/7 favourites for the wooden spoon.

Recommendation:

2pts @ 7/2 Ireland to Win 2009 Six Nations

Compare odds on bookies.com before having a bet on the rugby:

Six Nations Winner Betting

Six Nations Grand Slam Winner Betting

Six Nations Triple Crown Winner Betting

Magners League Winner Betting

Guinness Premiership Winner Betting

Heineken Cup Winner Betting

Still if you followed our advice to ‘lay Man U at 1.93 on Betfair’ you won’t have done too badly. Nor if you backed the ‘Big 4′ all to draw at accumulated odds of 366/1. Tonight there’s Charlton v Derby and Motherwell v Kilmarnock if you’re looking for a bet, but today we’re previewing the Heineken Cup.

The biggest story from this weekend was Dan Carter‘s successful debut for Perpignan, helping them to overcome Leicester 26-20. You can’t really call the result a shock, as Perpignan are 3rd in the French Top 14. The result saw the Tigers get pushed out to 12/1 from 10s, although they still head Group 3 thanks to a losing bonus point.

The main benefactors are the 16/1 Ospreys who must now fancy their chances of progressing. They’ll meet the Tigers at the Liberty stadium in January, in what’s set to be a crunch tie. London Wasps, also 16/1, are in a similar situation, in that they face 9/1 Leinster in a crucial tie at Twickenham next month.

7/2 Toulouse are pretty well fancied, and they dominated Newport this weekend to maintain their 100% record. Skrela picked up an injury, but he should only be out for a month. Vincent Clerc should be back in action soon after his 8 month injury. Toulouse are 4/11 to win their group, but may rue not picking up a bonus point this weekend.

66/1 Sale lost at Montauban, even though they thrashed them 36-6 last week. They are now out to 9/2 to win their group, which includes last year’s winners, 5/1 Munster. Munster struggled against Clermont on Saturday, needing 2 late tries to win.

With Munster unconvincing, it’s no surprise to see support for unbeaten sides Harlequins and Cardiff. The Blues are flying the flag for Wales, in a tournament that is usually dominated by the big guns of European rugby. They were originally priced at 28/1, but their odds have tumbled after each victory.

Quins were originally 66/1, but are now into 8/1 following 2 upsets against 33/1 Stade Francais. They showed great compusure in the game, and only won with a drop goal scored in the dying seconds. If Stade get 10 points in their next 2 games, they could well escape the group. Group winners all progress to the next round, along with the 2 best runners-up. Take a look at the current teams lying 2nd in their group, and only Stade and Leicester have 2 seemingly simple fixtures.

SkyBet have a market for the Winning Nation, although the odds are fairly prohibitive. Ireland are the 15/8 favourites, with England available at 2/1 and France at 9/4. Wales are the 5/1 outsiders, having been 10/1 in October.

Recommendation:

1pt 33/1 Stade Francais

Heineken Cup Betting

Heineken Cup Winning Nation Betting

Heineken Cup Group Betting