Leinster clash with Ulster in the United Rugby Championship quarter finals in Dublin on Saturday, Leinster start as favourites but they have had their problems against this opponent earlier in the campaign.
Leinster v Ulster, Saturday 8th June, Dublin, KO 18:00 (South African time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales) and Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Brain MacNeice (Ireland)
Weather Forecast – Dublin
Leinster:
Leinster had to settle for third spot in the standings at the end of the regular season with a record of 13 wins and 5 defeats. They had a Champions Cup campaign to contend with, a tournament in which they finished as runners up and they now look to the URC for silverware.
They topped the Irish Shield with 4 wins and 2 defeats in derby matches but their clashes with Ulster both ended in defeat, 22-21 in a Round 9 home fixture and 23-21 in Belfast in Round 17.
In last season's play offs Leinster bowed out at the semi final stage after losing a home game 16-15 to Munster.
In the outright betting to win the URC title BoyleSports make Leinster 13/20 favourites.
Ulster:
Ulster finished sixth on the log with a record of 11 wins and 7 defeat and their tally of 54 log points was 11 shy of their opponents here.
They will point to the two wins over Leinster for encouragement and overall they won 4 and lost 2 derby matches, second best in the Irish Shield. A home play off was beyond Ulster before they went down 29-24 away to Munster in the final round of matches.
In last season's play offs Ulster were beaten at home by Connacht (15-10) in the quarter finals.
Ulster are priced at 21/1 to win the URC title with BoyleSports
Team News
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan (c), 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Ciarán Frawley
Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Mike Lowry, 13 Will Addison, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 David McCann, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring (c), 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Greg Jones, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Ethan McIlroy, 23 Jude Postlethwaite
The Betting,
Leinster -16.5 points at 9/10
Ulster +16.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
I handicapped this game at Leinster -18.5 on Sunday night so it should be no surprise I am leaning Leinster here at the current line of -16.5. In truth that is only a 2 point difference but having caught up with Nathan on Thursday nights THE HANDICAP I am quite firmly in the Leinster camp.
They should be a full strength and Ulster are missing a few players and I can see Leinster running away with this.
A cautionary note is that they have not beaten this cap in their last 9 matches against Ulster but runs like that have to end some time.
The points line is 55.5 and if pushed I would be on unders although prefer Ulster unders when priced up.
BET: 4 units Leinster -16.5 at 19/20 at WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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