Latest rugby odds: Heineken Cup rd 5

Reputations go on the line this weekend as the top teams in the Magners League and the French League go head-to-head, with Leinster hosting Toulouse. The Guinness Premiership's leading side, Gloucester, also offer up their 100 per cent Heineken Cup record this season to the Ospreys, who they visit on Saturday afternoon.

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Both will be real spectacles for rugby purists, but for punters, the home win looks the value option in both matches.

Leinster are no mugs in Dublin, and such is their power in the Irish capital, that they shrugged off Leicester's muscular challenge in round one. The Tigers were swatted aside by a mixture of determination and brute force and the 22-9 scoreline probably is still not reflective of the home side's dominance.

Leinster put in a powder-puff performance when traveling to Toulouse where they were blown away 33-6, but the signs have been there recently that back at the RDS, they can see of the French raiders. The price is appealing too, and at 11/8, punters have got a value wager.

Gloucester are 13/10 with Paddy Power to consolidate their 26-18 victory over the Ospreys at Kingsholm. It is a bold decision by the Irish firm to be offering the home side at 4/7 and for those who don't mind betting at odds-on, it is a decent price.

The Ospreys have a good record against English sides at the Liberty Stadium, and coach Lyn Jones has packed his side full of Welsh internationals. Focal point for the Ospreys' attack will be burly Gavin Henson, who is sandwiched between Sonny Parker and Welsh wizard James Hook.
 
Gloucester are certainly not pulling any punches however, and coach Dean Ryan has assembled a fearful squad with which to mount an attack over the Severn Bridge. He has named his strongest match-day 22 but at the prices, the Ospreys and Leinster look good in a double which pays just under 3/1.

In the other matches, Stade Francais will try and despatch Bristol to keep their Heineken Cup dreams alive. Considering Cardiff stole a bonus point in Paris last time, Richard Hill's West Country men go there with perhaps their best chance of getting something out of the contest where Stade have remained unbeaten in 57 consecutive fixtures.

Sunday sees Munster try once more to crack a French heavyweight in the shape of Clermont. Munster have been on one long adventure in this tournament, and the European Challlenge Cup holders will be just another chapter in the Irish side's fine European history. Bet365 have given the visitors a nine-point start down in the Auvergne and given their pedigree on the road, that start looks too big.

Verdict: 2pts double on Leinster and Ospreys (Paddy Power); 1pt Munster +9 @ 10/11 (Bet365)

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