Heineken Cup semi-finals: Back Saracens to reach first final

"Saracens have home advantage in this clash and the confident English team can make this count at Twickenham."

Recommended bet: Back Saracens to win at 2.0621/20

Previewing the semi-finals of Europe's premier competition, Simon Mail expects Saracens to overcome Toulon and reach their first final, and is backing Clermont to edge a tight encounter with Munster

Saracens v Toulon
Kick-off: Sunday 14:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports 2

Saracens have their best chance of reaching the Heineken Cup final when they host Toulon at Twickenham. The Men in Black have an outstanding squad and their experience in this competition in recent years could help take them to the Aviva Stadium next month. Mark McCall's side will have learnt from their disappointing quarter-final exit to Clermont Auvergne last year.

Sarries came close to reaching the final five years ago when they suffered an agonising 18-16 defeat to Munster. But they look far more equipped to go one step further this time with strength in all positions. Their domestic form has been hard to fault as they lead the Premiership with one game to go. The side have also looked very strong in Europe where they brushed aside Ulster in the last-eight.

Toulon have enjoyed an excellent campaign which has seen them lead the Top 14 for most of the season. Failure to win in their last two matches has enabled Clermont to overtake them domestically but their Heineken Cup form has been mightily impressive. The big-spending French outfit, who can boast stars such as Jonny Wilkinson, saw off Leicester Tigers in the previous round and they have beaten English sides in all five meetings in the competition. 

Saracens have home advantage in this clash and the confident English team can make this count at Twickenham. Five of the last six semi-finals have been won by the team with home country advantage. The sides met twice three years ago in the Amlin Challenge Cup where they traded one win apiece. But Toulon are not the greatest travellers and Saracens, who have yet to lose a home match this season, are tipped to advance to the final.

Recommended bet: Back Saracens to win at 2.0621/20

Clermont Auvergne v Munster
Kick-off Saturday 16:30 
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1

Clermont Auvergne are the tournament favourites after a series of superb performances in the competition this season. The French league leaders have never reached the final before but are fancied by many to go all the way after being the only side to win all seven European matches this season. Clermont's free-flowing backline has sparkled in the Heineken Cup, with 23 tries in total, as they defeated last year's champions Leinster home and away. 

It is hard to believe a side of the quality of Munster start the match as 8.07/1 outsiders in this clash but it shows the confidence in Clermont. The Irish giants have the pedigree in this competition as two-time winners and are appearing in their tenth semi-final. Munster have stuttered in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 where they are languishing in sixth. But the team were inspired by the influential Paul O'Connell in their quarter-final win at Harlequins which should serve as a reminder they should never be written off. 

Clermont and Munster have both won two matches apiece when facing each other in the competition but the victors have always been the home side. The French club have the advantage this time with the contest taking place in Montpellier. Munster will certainly not cave in and will be desperately hoping the pressure on the odds on favourites takes its toll. But Clermont have the confidence, thanks to their 100 per cent record this season, to handle the occasion and the best bet could be a narrow home victory.

Recommended bet: Back Clermont to win by under 12.5 points at 1.875/6
Follow Simon's latest bets on Twitter @watfordtipster

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Championship Playoff Result: Swans reach the Premier League

Championship / Joe Dyer / 30 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Scott Sinclair was Swansea's hero

"Wembley witnessed a to-and-fro classic."

Wembley witnesses another goalfest as Swansea edge the £90m match

The Championship's finest did it again, serving up a promotion classic as Reading and Swansea fought out a six goal thriller that ended with the Welsh side reaching the promised land of the Premier League.

The Swans sent their followers into dream land with a three goal first half to leave the Royals in a state of shock and reward In-Play backers of the 3-0 halftime score at [95.0].

But two early efforts from Reading after the break pulled them right back into it and Wembley witnessed a to-and-fro classic as both teams attempted to land a killer blow.

It was down to Scott Sinclair to settle matters when the Swans striker scored his second penalty and third of the game late on to take the Welsh side through to the big time. His 80th minute spot kick will have come as a blow to backers of Under 5.5 goals at [1.01] on Betfair.

Swansea were backed at a high of [13.5] to be promoted, Reading traded at a low of [1.93].

We caught up with Reading Assistant Manager Nigel Gibbs ahead of the Championship Play-Off final, often described as the richest game in football. We asked him about practising penalties, Brendan Rogers and just why this match means so much....

Swansea go into the final as marginal favourites but there are good reasons to think that shouldn't necessarily be the case. Side with the outsiders in a low-scoring contest, says Andrew French....

They've gone down, there's in-fighting at the club's annual dinner and the club are £80m in debt but a long list of men are lined up for the manager role at Upton Park...

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Australian Open Results: Murray shows great character to reach final

Australian Open Betting / Maxliu / 28 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Can Andy Murray win his first Grand Slam on Sunday?

Latest Australian Open Odds: Novak Djokovic [1.75]; Andy Murray [2.3]

Andy Murray reaches Australian Open final for second year running. Can he beat Novak Djokovic and claim his first Grand Slam?

Andy Murray is [2.24] to win the Australian Open after he reached his second consecutive Melbourne final with a four set victory over David Ferrer.

Murray defeated the Spaniard 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-6 and will now play third seed Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final.

The Serb is favourite at [1.77] but Murray showed against Ferrer that he has the character necessary to succeed at Grand Slams. In previous rounds he had swept opponents aside with panache and, although there were similar moments today, this victory was about Andy digging in and showing the world that he has the temperament to go all the way.

It came down to balls, not just the yellow, fluffy ones either. A break up in the second set, Murray had the chance to get himself back on level terms but Ferrer broke back. A few years ago the Scot's head would have gone down; not so today, as he showed resilience and style to take the tie break 7-2.

He breezed the third with Ferrer wilting. However, after Murray broke early in the fourth, the Spaniard got himself back in the game and forced the tie break. Murray was the bolder and the more composed warrior, he was unfazed by the tension and stayed cool to win the match. British tennis fans will be praying that he can do the same on Sunday.

Djokovic won the Australian Open in 2008 - his sole success so far - and this will be his fourth Grand Slam final. Murray is becoming accustomed to the big matches though - this is his third final - and he will believe that he can go one step further than last year when he was given a lesson by Roger Federer.

Sunday's final will be a huge occasion for British sport and punters clearly believe that there is little between the two players. It'll be an early start but well worth it.

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What do you think? Can Andy upset the odds and win the Australian Open? Let us know below.

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