After a heartbreaking defeat in the Currie Cup final last week the Lions begin their United Rugby Championship campaign with a home fixture against Ulster in Johannesburg on Saturday.

 

 

 

Lions v Ulster, Saturday 28th September, Johannesburg, KO 12:55 (South African time)

 

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Henru van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)

 

Weather Forecast – Johannesburg

 

 

Lions:

 

The Lions switch focus to the URC after narrowly losing the Currie Cup Final (16-14) to the Sharks in Johannesburg last weekend. They lost just the one game in the domestic season but went down to a last gasp penalty from the Sharks in the final.

 

The Lions just missed out on a play off place in the URC last season, it went down to the wire but their record of 9 wins and 9 defeats was just short of what was required for an extended stay in the tournament.

 

These teams met in Belfast in Round 5 last season and Ulster ran out winners, 24-17.

 

In the outright betting the Lions are 90/1 shots to win the URC with BoyleSports.

 

Ulster:

 

Ulster made a winning start to their season when they edged out defending champions Glasgow Warriors 20-19 in Belfast. Both sides scored 3 tries a piece and two of Ulsters came on 72 minutes and then from the final play of the game.

 

Last season Ulster finished sixth on the log, winning 11 and losing 7 but they fell aat the first play off hurdle when they were beaten 43-20 away to Leinster. They were in South Africa for Rounds 12 and 13 where they lost to the Sharks 22-12 and the Stormers 13-7.

 

In the outright betting Ulster are 22/1 shots to win the URC with BoyleSports.

 

 

Team News

 

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Morgan Naudé.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Henco van Wyk

 

Ulster: 15 Ethan McIlroy, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Stewart Moore, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 John Cooney,8 Nick Timoney,7 Sean Reffell, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Alan O’Connor (captain), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 John Andrew, 1 Andrew Warwick.

Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 James McNabney, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Mike Lowry, 23 David McCann

 

 

The Betting,

 

Lions -6.5 points at 9/10

Ulster +6.5 points at 9/10

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

Betting Angle

 

This handicap has been pretty stable at Lions -6.5.

I was initially leaning Ulster but have lost confidence and will have a points bet instead. The line is 56.5 and in what should be good conditions I am going to bet that we get a high paced game with plenty of tries.

The only time these sides met in Johannesburg there were 76 points scored. 

 

BET: 4 units Over 56.5 points at 9/10 at WSB

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

 

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