The Bulls host Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship in Pretoria on Saturday and the visitors are looking for another SA scalp after springing a surprise in Durban last week
Bulls v Cardiff, Saturday 3rd December, Pretoria, KO 20:00 (South African time)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls saw off the Ospreys 43-26 at Loftus last weekend, a margin short of the pre-match handicap (22.5 points) but with 7 tries scored (4 conceded) they picked up a bonus point.
The Bulls come into the round in third spot with 29 log points, ahead of the Stormers on points difference although they have played 1 game more. They have 6 wins and 2 defeats against their name and they boast a 100% record at Loftus this season.
The 2 defeats came on tour as the Bulls went down 31-17 to Munster in Limerick, they also lost to the Warriors in Glasgow, 35-21.
In terms of the outright betting to win the tournament this season the Bulls are 10/1 shots with World Sports Betting
Cardiff:
Cardiff were given 16.5 points start on the handicap for last week's clash with the Sharks in Durban and they handled the difficult conditions really well and came through with a 35-0 victory, scoring 4 tries to land a bonus point.
Cardiff have won 5 and lost 3 of their matches so far and they have 22 log points. They come into this round in sixth position in the standings and they top the Welsh Shield, 7 points clear of the Dragons.
Cardiff lost 31-18 at home to the Lions in Round 3 but in Round 6 they beat the Stormers 30-24 in another home fixture.
On tour in SA last season Cardiff lost 37-20 at the Lions and 40-3 at the Stormers and when hosting the Bulls they were beaten 29-19.
Team News
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 David Kriel, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco Van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobberlaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Lionel Mapoe
Cardiff: Cameron Winnett; Jason Harries, Mason Grady, Ben Thomas, Aled Summerhill; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Carre, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull (capt), Thomas Young, James Botham.
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey Domachowski, Will Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Shane Lewis-Hughes, James Ratti, Ellis Bevan, Harri Millard
The Betting - Risk Free First Bet Up to R2,000 back if you don't win
Bulls -14.5 points at 9/10
Cardiff +14.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
That Cardiff result against the Sharks was one of the great upsets at least from a handicap perspective where it was a 50 point swing. Can they do it again against the Blue Bulls at Loftus? Personally I don’t think so and I suspect that the Bulls are going to overpower them though altitude will also be a factor.
Cardiff are well capable of scoring tries here so I am going to leave the handicap alone and back the Bulls to score 33 points or more.
BET: 6 units Blue Bulls over 32.5 points at 5/6 at WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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