3 of South Africa’s 4 URC teams are in action on Saturday and we take a look at their games from a betting angle.
Lions v Leinster – Click here to bet
The Lions are 11th on the table and need to go on a good run if they are to make it into the playoff. Their last match was away to Benetton in the Challenge Cup where they lost 27-17 and their last home game in the URC was against the Sharks where they won 40-10.
Leinster are top of the table with 2 losses and 11 victories in their 13 matches. They are coming off a convincing 40-13 beating of La Rochelle in the quarter-final of the Champions Cup and in their last action in the United Rugby Championship they turned in a devastating second-half performance to beat the Bulls 47-14 at home.
There has been plenty of betting movement in this game with the Lions backed into favourite on the assumption that Leinster will be fielding a second-string side.
Handicap: -1.5
Leinster have incredible depth in their squad so even a second-string side is capable of pushing teams all the way. The Lions have looked better this season than last and I think they can win this one.
Suggested Bet: The Lions win at 8/10
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Bulls v Munster – Click here to bet
The Bulls are South Africa’s top team and they currently sit 3rd on the log with 9 victories and 4 defeats. They are coming off a 59-22 loss in the Championship Cup quarter-finals, but they did send a weaker side over to England. Their last home game was against the Stormers where they won 40-22.
Their opponents, Munster, one position behind them on the log having won 8, drawn 1 and lost 4 of their 13 matches. Munster were beaten 24-14 away at Northampton in the Round of 16 so these teams do have a common opponent in the last couple of weeks. As far as the United Rugby Championship goes, Munster beat Cardiff 20-15 in their last match and indications are that they should be able to field a strong side.
Handicap: Bulls -10.5
Munster are a team that know how to win on South African soil and they beat the Stormers in last year’s Final. The Bulls at Loftus is going to be a big ask though and I am expecting the Bulls to start fast and to win comfortably.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Bulls -10.5 at 10/11
Stormers v Ospreys – Click here to bet
The Stormers are currently 5th on the log with 8 wins and 5 losses in their 13 matches. Their last action was in the Champions Cup where they were beaten 22-21 at home by La Rochelle in the Round of 16 and their last URC action was at home to Ulster where they won 13-7.
Ospreys are currently 7th on the log and very much in the playoff mix. They have won 7 and lost 6 of their 13 matches and their last action was in the Challenge Cup last weekend when they went down 23-13 to Gloucester in a quarter-final. In the URC their last match was a 36-21 home win over the Lions.
The Stormers last hosted the Ospreys in 2022 winning 29-13.
Handicap: Stormers -19.5
The Stormers should be too strong, but this handicap looks a dangerous one and I am going to rather settle on the half-time play with the Stormers to lead by 9 or more at the break.
Suggested Bet: First-Half Handicap, Stormers -8.5 at 17/20
Click here for betting on all of the weekend’s URC action
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
