There are two United Rugby Championship matches taking place on Sunday and we take a look at each of them from a betting angle.
Leinster start the season as favourites to win the United Rugby Championship and they are currently priced at 4/7 with last season’s winners, Munster 5/1, you can get 11/2 the Stormers and 12/1 and better the balance.
Click here for the latest United Rugby Championship Outright Betting
BULLS v SCARLETS – Click here to bet
Bulls
The Bulls finished 6th on the log last season with 10 wins in their 18 matches. The Bulls have brought a number of new players into the squad and I am particularly looking forward to seeing Akker van der Merwe in action again. Their last URC action was in the quarter-finals when they lost 33-21 to the Stormers in Cape Town and they are 16/1 to win the competition at the time of writing.
Scarlets
The Scarlets finished 14th on the log last season with 6 wins and a draw in their 18 matches. They were stronger in the 2nd half of the season after a very slow start and they will be hoping to start this season with a strong performance on the road. There are loads of changes to the Scarlets squad and they have bought in fewer players that have left, but overall they look to have made some shrewd signings and there are also changes amongst the coaching staff. The Scarlets are rank outsiders at 125/1 to win the URC.
Head-to-Head
The Scarlets hosted the Bulls last season winning 37-28 and when the Bulls hosted the Scarlets in 2022 they won 57-12.
Handicap: Bulls -17.5
I am expecting the Bulls to overpower the Scarlets team and to start the season with a runaway victory.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Bulls -17.5 at 10/11
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GLASGOW v LEINSTER – Click here to bet
Glasgow
The Glasgow Warriors finished 4th on the table last season with 13 wins and 5 defeats. They hosted Munster in the quarter-finals of the URC going down 5-14 in a low-scoring encounter. They look to have made some shrewd signings and I think overall their squad has been strengthened. Glasgow are priced at 33/1 to go all the way this season.
Leinster
Leinster finished top of the log, 11 points ahead of second-place Ulster. They made the mistake of resting players for their home semi-final with Munster though and went down 15-16. A week later they lost 26-27 La Rochelle in the European Cup final, also at home.
Jacques Nienaber, the Bok coach will be linking up with Leinster after the World Cup, and although Jonny Sexton retires they still have plenty of top-class players to call on, and a lot of the players that have come up into the squad have come through the Academy.
Head-to-Head
Leinster hosted Glasgow last season winning 40-5 at home and the last time Glasgow hosted was in 2021 when Leinster won 31-15.
Handicap: Leinster +4.5
I think Irish rugby may still be in a state of shock after their quarter-final exit to New Zealand and I am backing Glasgow to cause an early upset here.
Suggested Bet: Glasgow win at 18/10
Note: All prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
