The Lions and the Bulls return to United Rugby Championship action in a local derby in Johannesburg on Saturday with both teams looking to strengthen their play off credentials
Lions v Bulls, Saturday 25th January, Johannesburg, KO 14:45 (South African time)
Referee: to follow
Assistant Referees: to follow
TMO: to follow
Weather Forecast – Johannesburg
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Lions:
The Lions Challenge Cup campaign saw them finish fourth in their pool and they will travel to Edinburgh in the Round of 16. Over the last couple of weeks they lost 28-5 at Montpellier before they dished out a 60-10 hiding to the Dragons at Ellis Park to go through with a record of 2 wins and 2 defeats.
In the URC the Lions have won 4 and lost 3 of their first 7 games, they have fallen out of the top 8 and are 3 points off a play off place but they have 1 and 2 games in hand on all the other sides except the Bulls. In the outright betting the Lions are 30/1 shots to win the URC title.
After winning each of their first 4 games (2 at home, 2 on tour) the Lions 100% record was snapped in a 24-6 defeat to Leinster in Dublin and in Round 7 they went down 17-10 at Munster. Just before Christmas they lost 29-10 away to the Stormers, their only SA derby so far this season.
Bulls:
Since their last URC action the Bulls wrapped up their Champions Cup campaign with the final 2 pool matches. A 49-10 defeat away to Castres in Round 3 put them out of contention but last weekends 48-7 thumping of Stade Francais at Loftus saw them take fifth place and qualify Challenge Cup Round of 16 where they will be away to Aviron Bayonnais.
In the URC the Bulls have a record of 5 wins and 2 defeats which puts them in fourth place with 25 points with 2 games in hand on Cardiff (28 points), Glasgow (33 points) and runaway leaders Leinster (43 points). In the outright betting to win the URC title the Bulls are 5/1 second favourites with WSB.
The Bulls only defeats of the season came in Round 5 when they were edged out 23-22 away to the Scarlets and on 21st December they went down 20-17 to the Sharks in Durban.
In last season's URC head to heads with the Lions the Bulls won 30-28 at Loftus and they also came out on top in Joburg (25-10).
Team News
Lions: tbc
Bulls: tbc
The Betting,
Average early show, to be updated
Lions +4.5 points at 9/10
Bulls -4.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
to follow
Bet: to follow
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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