There are two South African teams in action in this weekend’s United Rugby Championship semi-finals and we take a look at both games from a betting angle.

Let’s start with a quick update on the Outright Betting where Leinster are the 2/7 favourites to win the title with the Stormers priced at 13/2, Ulster 15/2 and you can get 20/1 the Bulls.

Click here for Outright Betting

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FRIDAY

LEINSTER v BLUE BULLS

Leinster suffered the disappointment of losing the Heineken Champions Cup to La Rochelle two weeks ago, but they bounced back strongly last weekend with a 76-14 thumping over the Glasgow Warriors.

They had finished top of the log after their 18 matches with 13 wins and 5 defeats and their points difference of +270 was a 117 points better than anyone else in the competition.

The Bulls finished 4^th on the log with 11 wins and 7 defeats and they had a nail-biter at home to the Sharks last week eventually winning 30-27 thanks to a drop goal in the final minute.

The Bulls and Leinster met at Leinster the first week of the competition way back in September 2021 with Leinster running out 31-3 victors.

BETTING – Click here to bet

Leinster 1/14

Draw 40/1

Blue Bulls 9/1

Handicap: Leinster -19.5

Suggested Bet: Total Points under 51.5 at 9/10

This is playoff rugby and I am expecting a tight encounter and rather than focus on the handicap market I am going to go for the points line which given there is some rain about during the day may be that bit too high.

SATURDAY

STORMERS v ULSTER

The Stormers came through a tough semi-final at home to Edinburgh winning 28-17. The Stormers win over Edinburgh was their 9^th in succession and that included a narrow 23-20 win over Ulster back in March. That game was controversial though with Ulster been denied what looked like a legitimate try at the death.

Ulster were very impressive in their home semi-final last week beating Munster 36-17 and they will fancy their chances of getting revenge on the Stormers in Cape Town.

BETTING – Click here to bet

Stormers 8/11

Draw 22/1

Ulster 27/20

Handicap: Stormers -2.5

Suggested Bet: First-Half Winning Margin, Stormers by 1-7 points at 2/1

I am expecting a very tight game here with the Stormers fancied to make a slightly the fastest start and to carry a narrow lead into the break.

Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change