Rod's Rugby Union/Rugby League/AFL (9/4-13/4)

I went and looked at the numbers......and "researched" a bit, and drank some kool aid.

SKS -13, I took.

Hopefully I won't have to watch much of this match....     

Why not?  Playing at home should do the trick, although Stade's backline looks scary and is basically the French National side.

I'm jumping on the ML at $2.10.  Why?  Chris White's the referee for this match.  Take the MS home-cooking and rachet it up three notches.  He EASILY favors the Welsh side in this as half his family is Welsh (wife's side).  Last time I played a match when he was reffing was Wales v. Argentina, a match the Pumas should have won, but horrible decisions at the end of the match on the Welsh line saved the day for the home team.  The Pumas were pissed, their coach was livid, and that was that.

I expect, if Cardiff is competitive here, which they should be, White will help them over.

Cardiff @ $2.10.

Sometimes things are not as they seem

Needless to say, those numbers/stats didn't add up!         

I did leave myself an out by admitting to drinking the kool aid....

Blues +2.5 =

Haven't looked at the game yet CCL but I do know Nick Evans is back for the Quins. History over the past 4 years has dictated that it's extremely difficult to get a road win in the knock out stage of the the European competition   

Just the one in the NRL today

Knights -3.5 over Warriors

Anyone else think the Titans are last years Sharks, only with better scoring talent?

Rod, Clay

Thanks Clay.  9-6 match and White blew the whistle against the French in all the right moments.  At around 60 minutes, the visitors were getting steaming at White for the 50/50 calls going against them.

Close, competitive game and White helps the Welsh get over the hump.  Just as I thought.

He is clearly biased toward any Welsh side and why the IRB continues to select him for these matches is beyond me.  As long as they continue to do so, I will continue to back Welsh sides when he is refereeing. 

If you mean are they underrated, than yes. As you say far better attacking team and one I would actually pay to watch unlike the Sharks. Only thing good about the Sharks are their cheer squad, very easy on the eyes

One in the AFL today, may add one in the game in Perth depending on a couple of things

Hawks -8.5 over Kangaroos

The reality was that Toulouse were by far the better team however poor finishing combined with some agressive and committed tackling by the Blues got them over the line.

Tigers squeaked past Bath rather fortunate to have won that but when their big gun like Corry, White and Mauger come back, I will be all over them to take down the Blues in the semi final. I'm fairly certain the books will give me at least 4-5 points which will be more than enough.  

Joining the -3.5 Newcastle bandwagon.....

I'll have to try and remember that one the next time I have to endure a Sharks match cause I have $$ on it.

I'm with you on the Hawks.....

Certainly agree that he is good but ahead of guys like Stewart and Slater? That is exactly what this Manly team have missed, Stewart popping up when there is a half break made. There hasn't been anyone from Manly who is able to do that, turn a half break into a try.

Oh yes, don't let my post take anything away from the defensive effort by Cardiff.  Halfpenny had a great tackle late in the match, in particular and Toulouse misfired on a couple of forward passes.  However, the whistle did come in handy in a few keys spots and that helped make the difference in the match.  Had those whistles not gone, we could have seen 9-6 to the French side.  In a tight contest like this, I was looking fro White's bias to be the tipping point...and it was, as Toulouse was clearly frustrated with the refereeing at about the 60-minute mark.