The Lions host the Sharks in Johannesburg in the first of two local derby's in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday and the pre-match betting suggests it will be a close game.
Lions v Sharks, Saturday 1st March, Johannesburg, KO 14:30 (South African time)
Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Stephen Geldenhuys (South Africa), Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Weather Forecast – Johannesburg
Lions:
The Lions were involved in the only URC match to take place last week, a derby away to the Bulls and they finished on the losing side, going down 31-19. They conceded the first 17 points of the match and there was to be no way back with the Bulls running in 5 tries to the Lions 3. The margin of victory for the Bulls was greater than the main handicap line which had seen the Lions given around 8.5 points start.
In earlier derby matches the Lions started as 5.5 point favourites fora clash with the Stormers at Ellis Park and they covered the handicap with a 30-23 victory, scoring 3 tries to 2. The Lions had previously lost 29-10 away to the Stormers and they also lost the first clash with the Bulls 35-22 at Loftus.
The Lions have now won 5 and lost 5 of their URC matches, they remain outside of the top 8 and 4 points off a play off place and they have 1 game in hand on the European sides. In the outright betting the Lions are 50/1 shots to win the URC title with WSB.
Sharks:
The Sharks have a record of 7 wins and 3 defeats and are fourth in the standings, 6 points behind the third placed Bulls who have played a game more and in the outright betting they are 9/1 to win the URC title with WSB.
The Sharks most recent URC outing came away to the Bulls at Loftus on the 15th Feb and they came away with a 29-19 victory, scoring 4 tries to the Bulls 3.
In earlier SA derby matches this season the Sharks beat the Stormers (21-15) in Durban, then got the better of the first clash with Bulls (20-17), also in Durban. Their only derby defeat so far came against the Stormers (24-20) in Cape Town.
Team News
Lions: tbc
Sharks: tbc
The Betting,
Average early show, to be updated
Lions -2.5 points at 9/10
Sharks +2.5 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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