Durban Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Prediction: Sharks ready for must-win clash

As we head into the final round of pool matches, Durban Sharks know only a win over Clermont Auvergne will do on Saturday, if they are to qualify for the last-16 (13:00, Premier Sports 1).

The South African outfit are strong favourites on home soil to dispose of their French opponents, who are the bottom team in Pool 1. Below are my Durban Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne predictions, as well as the key team news and match odds for the clash at Kings Park Stadium.

Team News

JP Pietersen has surprised many by naming a Sharks team that is far from their strongest line-up, although Springbok Aphelele Fassi does start.

Flanker Nick Hatton captains the hosts but the likes of Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Andre Esterhuizen and Siya Kolisi have been omitted.

The Hendrikse brothers, Jordan and Jaden, have been reinstalled as halfbacks, while World Cup-winning prop Ox Nche is also named in the starting XV.

Clermont have made no fewer than 11 changes to the team that lost 21-33 at home to Glasgow Warriors last weekend.

Scrum-half Lucas Zamora, Fijian center Alifereti Loaloa, lock Thibaud Lanen and back-row Killian Tixeront are the only four players that remain from last Saturday’s XV.

Durban Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne Odds

The home team are 1/80 to claim the win they need to stand a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Clermont Auvergne, without a win to date in the tournament, can be backed at 14/1 while the draw is available at 28/1.

Handicap - Durban Sharks -26 @ 4/5

It was thought the Sharks would go with their strongest team possible to make sure they wrapped up a win and hope other scorelines go their way.

The South Africans have to win and then either need Sale to beat Toulouse, or beat Clermont by a huge score and then hope Saracens can also run in a big score against Glasgow.

Although qualification does look unlikely, Durban should have more than enough, even with a weaker team, to see off their French opponents.

The Sharks beat Saracens in their only other home clash in Pool 1 and will feel they let a big chance slip at Sale last week, when just 7-3 down at the break.

Total Points - Under 55.5 @ 1/1

These two are the lowest point-scorers in Pool 1, with Clermont the joint-lowest in the competition with 45 - matched by Bayonne.

It looks likely that the visitors will be on the back foot for the majority of the 80 minutes, and have scored just seven tries across their first three matches.

Three of those tries came in the home defeat to Glasgow last week, with Clermont averaging just 15 points per game in this competition.

It’s also worth noting that only one of the Sharks’ three games have beaten the 55.5 points total - that was their 56-19 defeat at Toulouse in early December.

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