CCSharks21A preview of Friday's United Rugby Championship clash between the Ospreys and the Sharks including best bets and tryscorer specials with @Olimp_SA

 

 

 

Ospreys vs. Sharks, United Rugby Championship, Friday 8 October 20:35

 

Ospreys

 

The Ospreys currently find themselves in fourth place on the log with eight points thanks to wins in both of their matches so far. They are unbeaten along with four other teams in the tournament and look to extend their winning streak to three matches when they take on the Sharks on Friday night.

 

In their opening encounter of the United Rugby Championship Ospreys went into the match as slight underdogs against fellow Welsh side Newport with the bookies giving Newport a 1.5 point head start. Despite being down 10-0 early in the match they managed to come back and win 27-23. Kiwi winger Michael Collins scored a double and they covered the pre match handicap comfortably in the end.

 

Last week they played their first home match against another Welsh side Cardiff and went into this one as slight favourites with -2.5 points on the handicap. Although Cardiff managed to run in two tries in the match Ospreys were able to come out on top with an 18-14 win thanks to Gareth Anscombe slotting six penalties. It wasn’t a pretty win but they covered the pre match handicap narrowly.

 

Sharks

 

The Sharks are on the complete opposite side of the table and find themselves in 15th place with 0 points on the board. Just like their fellow South African teams they are yet to win their first clash and hope to end their losing streak on Friday night.

 

The men from Durban took on Munster in their opening match and were not given much of a chance by the bookies. They were given a 24.5 point head start going into the match and they could not even manage to cover that. Three tries in the first half by the hosts saw them go into the break trailing 20-3 and despite two second half tries by Henry Chamberlain and Yaw Penxe, the Sharks’ defense couldn’t hold up and three further tries by Munster meant the match ended 42-17.

 

Last week the Sharks faced Glasgow and although they were given a more respectable handicap of 8.5 points compared to the week before, they once again failed to cover it. The hosts were able to cross the whitewash in the first minute and racked up four tries in the first half, sending the Sharks to the sheds trailing 28-10 at the break. Although the Sharks managed to put in a better performance in the second half and score a further two tries thanks to Thomas Du Toit and Nuthuthuko Mnchunu, the damage had already been done and the match ended 35-24.

 

Prediction

 

It’s quite clear that the Ospreys are the far better team in this clash and unless there is a miracle turnaround from the Sharks it will be an easy win for the Welsh side. The Sharks have been very slow out of the starting blocks in the tournament so far and they seem to only manage a fight back in the second half, often when it’s already too late. They have made a number of changes for this clash in the hopes of a better result, but I don’t believe we will see their first win of the tournament.

 

The first half handicap has been set at -4.5 points for Ospreys and I think that this is a real steal. Sure Ospreys have not been scoring as many points as Munster or Glasgow, but considering they have a reliable kicker and the Sharks being slow starters so far, this is a really good bet for me.

 

Thomas du Toit managed to find the line against Glasgow last week and with the big man being given the captaincy duties this week I see him very motivated to cross the whitewash once again. The price on him to score anytime in the match is just too juicy to pass up. I am also willing to have a small crack on Ospreys hooker Sam Parry to rumble over for the first try of the match.

 

BetOlimp Best Bets

 

First half handicap: Ospreys – 4.5 – 1.80
First Tryscorer: Sam Parry – 12.00
Anytime Tryscorer: Thomas du Toit – 12.00

 

(Note, all odds quoted are subject to change)

 

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