The Stormers host Dragons in the United Rugby Championship in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and the home side are firm favourites to chalk up another win.
Stormers v Dragons, Saturday 3rd December, Port Elizabeth, KO 14:00 (South African time)
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Weather Forecast – Port Elizabeth
Stormers:
The Stormers (13.5 point favourites) put the Scarlets away 36-19 in Cape Town last week, picking up a bonus point in a 5 try display. The Stormers were without a sizeable Springbok contingent and they did the bulk of the damage early on, leading 29-7 at half time.
The Stormers now have a record of 5 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. With 29 log points they are in fourth spot in the standings, 9 points behind leaders Leinster who have played a game more.
Their only defeat this came on tour in Cardiff, 30-24 and they played out a 16-16 draw away to the Ospreys, whilst their home record is of the 100% variety
In terms of the outright betting to win the tournament this season the Stormers are 8/1 shots with World Sports Betting with Leinster favourites at 5/10
Dragons:
The Dragons were in Johannesburg to take on the Lions last Sunday, they were given 15.5 points start on the handicap and they lost the game 33-25 with both sides scoring 3 tries.
The Dragons have 15 log points and they have played 8 matches, winning 3 and losing 5 and they are second in the Welsh Shield, 7 points behind Cardiff and eleventh overall.
Before coming on tour they thrashed Parma 47-7 to make it back to back home wins after a 32-25 victory over the Ospreys. The also defeated Munster 23-17 back in Round 2 but they have yet to win away from home. One earlier match against SA opposition saw them edged out by the Sharks, 20-19 in Round 3.
Last season the Dragons lost 24-10 at home to the Stormers.
Team News
Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Tristan Leyds, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba
Dragons: Angus O'Brien; Sio Tomkinson, Steff Hughes, Max Clark, Jordan Williams; JJ Hanrahan, Rhodri Williams; Aki Seiuli, Bradley Roberts, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Sean Lonsdale, Huw Taylor, Aaron Wainwright, Ross Moriarty (capt)
Replacements: James Benjamin, Josh Reynolds, Chris Coleman, Harri Keddie, Ben Fry, Lewis Jones, Will Reed, Aneurin Owen
The Betting - Risk Free First Bet Up to R2,000 back if you don't win
Stormers -23.5 points at 19/20
Dragons +23.5 points at 17/20
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
The Stormers surprised many with their strong performance last week and there were a number of Scarlets +17.5 backers almost tearing up their tickets before their charges came back to grab the handicap.
The Dragons for me are a team that have punched above their weight this season and it might be to their advantage that they are not playing this game in Cape Town.
Total Points is set at 52.5 which looks about right and this stage I am leaning to the Dragons to keep things respectable against the Stormers and will take the +23.5 on offer.
BET: 4 units Dragons +23.5 at 17/20 at Sportingbet*
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Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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