The South African URC teams finally get to host their European rivals this weekend and we take a look at all 4 of those matches from a betting angle.
FRIDAY
SHARKS v SCARLETS
The Sharks currently sit 8th on the log, top of the South African teams and they face a Scarlets side that are 4 places below them in 12th. The Sharks had few problems in seeing off Benetton 29-7 on the road last time out and prior to that they had beaten the Bulls 29-22 at Loftus. Their last home game was a 22-22 draw against the Stormers.
The Scarlets turned in one of their better performances of the season beating Glasgow 35-10 at home last weekend and in their only game against South African opposition to date they beat the Lions 36-13 at home back in October.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Sharks 1/14
Draw 45/1
Scarlets 10/1
Handicap: Sharks (-17.5)
Suggested Bet: First Half Winning Margin, the Sharks by 8-14 points inclusive at 85/40
I am expecting the Scarlets to be competitive early, but the Sharks side has too much class and can go into the half-time break with a decent lead.
SATURDAY
BLUE BULLS v MUNSTER
The Bulls currently sit 10th on the table while Munster are placed 5th. The Bulls have had a week off after their 45-7 win over Zebre on the road. They started that match slowly, but swung into gear in the second-half for a comfortable victory.
Their last game at Loftus was a disappointment and they went down 29-22 to the Sharks. The week before that they had beaten the Lions by 8 points at home.
Munster may be missing a lot of Irish Internationals, but they were far too strong for the Dragons last week, winning 64-3 at home. They hosted both the Sharks and the Stormers earlier in the season beating the Sharks by 25 and the Stormers by 16.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Blue Bulls 1/3
Draw 25/1
Munster 29/10
Handicap: Blue Bulls (-7.5)
Suggested bet: Winning Margin, Bulls by 15 points or more at 22/10
I am not messing around with handicaps in this game, I think the Bulls are going to hit their straps and win comfortably.
SUNDAY
LIONS v CARDIFF
The Lions continue to disappoint and are currently sitting 14th on the log with just 2 wins in 10 starts. Cardiff is sitting just 1 position above them, but they are 6 points clear and with two games in hand.
Cardiff were well beaten 48-12 by Ulster on the road last week and the Lions last match was a 21-13 loss at Leinster, a game where they started 23 point underdogs.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Lions 4/9
Draw 25/1
Cardiff 22/10
Handicap: Lions (-5.5)
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Lions (-5.5) at 9/10
The Lions haven't been great this season, but they should be too strong for a Cardiff side that was badly beaten last weekend and can probably think of nothing worse than a trip to South Africa.
STORMERS v ZEBRE
The Stormers currently sit just behind the Sharks in the South African Shield and they sit 9th on the table with Zebre last and without a win in their 9 games.
Zebre did turn in one of their better performances last week when they lost 27-22 at the Ospreys and that was the first time they have scored 20 points since the opening week 26-38 loss to the Lions. Their other match against South African opposition was a 45-7 defeat to the Bulls two weeks ago.
The Stormers last match was in Ireland where they looked like beating Connacht only to drop away in the final quarter of the game to go down 19-17 and prior to that they had beaten the Lions by 22 points on the road and the Sharks by 10 points at home.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Stormers 1/200
Draw 100/1
Zebre 22/1
Handicap: Stormers (-31.5)
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Stormers (-31.5) at 17/20
This is a massive handicap, but the Zebre’s look well off the pace and lack the depth in their squad to challenge the Stormers who I think will take advantage of this opportunity to run riot.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
