Clear run for Vincent Clerc
It all began with a taster at Sixways but let's not kid ourselves, a spotless table ready for Heineken Cup mains is what rugby followers were waiting for.
Champions of past up until the present day are involved in the northern hemisphere's elite club shindig once again - barring Wasps - for what promises to thrill us right up until May.
Leinster will kick things off with a cracker at home to London Irish while other fixtures take place at Ravenhill and Kingsholm before the weekend.
And SkyBet is going 100/1 for a repeat of the Dubliners lifting the Cup and captain Brian O'Driscoll taking the top tryscorer honours in 2009/10.
Our Tipster has never been more ready for the kick-off after a good few weeks of calls so he will be hoping to transfer that domestic form onto the European stage, much like an in-form Ulster, Clermont and Toby Booth's Exiles.
Taking a long, hard look at the odds for both Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cup runners and riders, there is a distinct feeling that both these tournaments are as wide open as they have been for many a year...
Great news for the neutral then but not to fear as our man did find some tasty markets that has made him like a kid at Christmas waiting for Friday to arrive.
It 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
A team pretty much throwing in the towel has never been more evident than Sale naming their side to face Toulouse in the testing arena that is Stade Ernest Wallon.
Kingsley Jones has named a sizeable prop at lock for the clash as he looks to rotate ahead of their Round Two fixture against Cardiff Blues.
Therefore, I can see no repeat of the Sharks' opening round shock of 2008/09 when they upset Clermont in an exciting spectacle at a sun-swept Stade Marcel Michelin.
Toulouse were (-14) with the handicap but are now (-19)!
Worth a shot
If anyone was fortunate enough to snap up last week's odds on Ulster to top Pool 4 then you would get a nod of approval from myself as at 25/1, it surely was too good to let slip by.
The bookies obviously later took note of the Belfast outfit's early Magners League form - as they did with the aforementioned Toulouse game - and duly trimmed them back to 14s, but I still think that is worth a punt for the following reasons...
One: The away form of Stade Francais over recent European years has been nothing short of erratic - discount beating the Ulstermen last season - and they are not the superpower they used to be.
Two: Bath seem to be still recovering without some of their old faces - some injured some not - and after their bruising loss at Twickenham Stoop, they may take time to get back to their attacking best.
Get on Ulster to finish atop of Pool 4!
Anything take your fancy?
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