With the 2025 Six Nations behind us, the URC is back in full swing with round 13 kicking off this weekend. All four South African teams will play with one match on Friday and the other three taking place on Saturday.
We look at these four matches from a betting angle and share our fancied plays for consideration.
Leinster remain short priced favorites to win the competition and are trading at 1.53 while the Bulls are trading at 6.50. Defending Champions, the Glasgow Warriors are trading at 7.50 for the win and you can get 11.00 and better the balance.
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FRIDAY
Cardiff v Lions – Click here to bet
Cardiff are coming off the back of five straight losses in all competitions while the Lions are coming off the back of two wins out of their last five matches.
Cardiff’s last match was at the beginning of the month when they lost 42-24 to Leinster away from home.
The Lions most recent match was against the Sharks away from home where they lost the match 25-22 having beaten the same team convincingly at home the week before.
Head-to-Head
The Lions have won all of the last three matches between the two sides. The most recent match ended 34-13 in Johannesburg.
Betting and verdict
Cardiff are favorites to win the match and are trading at 1.72 while the Lions are trading at 2.40 . The draw is currently at 23.00 .
The last time the Lions played Cardiff in Cardiff, they won the match 18-31 and having picked a strong team I am betting on an away win.
Handicap: Lions [+2.5 ]
BET: Lions to win at 2.40
SATURDAY
Sharks v Zebre – Click here to bet
The Sharks have won three of their last four matches in the URC and are starting to build some good momentum. The last match was against the Lions at home where they won the match 25-22.
Zebre have also been on a solid run of form, winning all of their last three matches. Their most recent win came against the Dragons where they won the match 31-21 at home.
Head-to-Head
The Sharks won their last match against Zebre in Durban with the match ending 47-3 while Zebre won the fixture before that in Italy with that match ending 12-10.
Betting and verdict
The Sharks are favorites to win the match and are trading at 1.04 while Zebre are trading at 19.00 for the win. The draw is currently at 61.00.
Both teams are on a good run of form going into this match and I can see it being a very tight match and I think that Zebre can stay within the handicap.
Handicap: Sharks [-22.5]
BET: Handicap, Zebre [+22.5] at 1.90.
Vodacom Bulls v Leinster – click here to bet
The Bulls are coming off the back of five back-to-back South African derbies where they managed to win three of the five matches. Their most recent match saw a 16-19 loss to the Stormers at home at the beginning of the month.
There is a reason Leinster are favorites to win the competition, they have won their last 16 matches in a row. They are yet to lose a match in this year’s URC and are 13 points clear at the top of the table.
Head-to-Head
The two sides met in last year’s semifinal of the URC which took place at Loftus. The Bulls came out on top, winning the match 25-20. Leinster are yet to beat the Bulls in Pretoria having played there twice.
Betting and verdict
The bookmakers have been holding betting back on this game until they see the teams so return to this preview Saturday morning for betting and a play.
Update: The Bulls are 1.25 to win the game with Leinster 4.75 and the draw 26.00.
Leinster have some strong players but are missing a number of the Irish 6 Nations squad and I am backing the Bulls to win this by double figures.
Handicap: Bulls -9.5
BET: Handicap Bulls -9.5 at 1.91
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Scarlets v Stormers – Click here to bet
The Scarlets have won two of their last five matches in all competitions with their most recent match being a 30-28 loss to Ulster away from home.
The Stormers have only managed to win one of their last five matches, with that win coming against the Bulls away from home at a very wet Loftus.
Head-to-Head
The Scarlets are yet to beat the Stormers in a match, with the Stormers winning all three previous games. The last time the two sides met in Wales, the match ended 21-26.
Betting and verdict
The Stormers are favourites to win the match and are trading at 1.80 while the Scarlets are trading at 2.20 for the win. The draw is currently at 23.00 .
The Stormers have only won two of their last eight away matches in all competitions and with their long break away from Europe I see the home team picking up the win.
Handicap: Scarlets [+1.5]
BET: Scarlets to win at 2.20.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
