WillGreenwood

Odds of 1.29 on Leinster to win a third Heineken Cup in four seasons? Madness. You'd have to be deluded to take that bet. Either that or you haven't watched any recent finals. I said in my semi-final preview that I'm always reluctant to bet against Leinster and my fears proved justified. Having backed Clermont at the start of the season, I had to stick with the French side and I was gutted to see my 16/1 melt in the Bordeaux sun. I don't necessarily go along with those who say that game was the real 2012 Heineken Final because I think we're in for a thriller at Twickenham, but the second semi was an epic. The champions started brilliantly, Clermont powered their way back but Jonny Sexton made the difference. He pulled his men together and called for a technically brilliant move that ...

There isn't a bettor in the world who would have predicted this semi-final. Both Ulster and Edinburgh pulled off big upsets in the quarters and the last four of the Heineken Cup are unchartered waters for many of the players involved. Ulster won this competition in 1999 but for their current squad Sunday's semi-final is a huge and daunting occasion. I don't think they'll be phased by last weekend's defeat to Heineken favourites Leinster and they will have been raring to get on with this one all week. For Edinburgh it will be exactly the same. They have already achieved an enormous amount by getting this far - I see one brave punter got matched at 1000.00 in the outright winner market - and, as the first Scottish club to reach the semis, I take my hat off to Michael Bradley's men. Whether...