The Sharks return home to a heroes welcome before they wrap up their United Rugby Championship campaign with a home fixture against the play off bound Bulls in Durban on Saturday.
Sharks v Bulls, Saturday 1st June, Durban, KO 16:10 (South African time)
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadzweni (South Africa) and Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Weather Forecast – Durban
Sharks:
The Sharks are back on home soil after landing the Challenge Cup in London last week with a 36-22 win over Gloucester. Siya Masuku kicked 21 of their points in a history making victory.
Success in Europe more than compensates for a poor showing in the URC. The Sharks won just 1 of their first 11 matches and are thirteenth on the log with a record of 4 wins and 13 defeats for a tally of just 25 log points.
The Sharks are also cast adrift of the foot of the SA Shield having lost all of their SA derby matches this season. They lost 44-10 away to the Bulls in Round 7 and were then edged out 20-18 by the Lions in Durban and 16-15 by the Stormers in Cape Town. The return with the Stormers saw the Sharks beaten 25-21 and they crashed to a 40-10 defeat to the Lions in Joburg.
Bulls:
The Bulls will be hosting a play off and if log leaders Munster were to fluff their lines at home to Ulster immediately after this match the Bulls could even top the standings.
Coming into the final round the Bulls are second with 12 wins and 5 defeats, 2 points shy of Munster, 1 better off than Leinster and Glasgow, all of whom will have home advantage in the quarters.
SA derby form comprises of that 44-10 home win over the Sharks, a 26-20 defeat away to the Stormers and a 30-28 home win over the Lions. The Bulls also won the return with the Lions 25-10 and then ended their Stormers hoodoo with a 40-22 victory at Loftus.
In the outright betting the Bulls are now 53/10 second favourites to win the tournament with BoyleSports who make Leinster 6/10 shots
Team News
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter (captain), 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Diego Appollis
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Sebastian de Klerk
The Betting,
Sharks +15.5 points
Bulls -15.5 points
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
The Bulls will know what they have to do to get 2nd place on the log and they will also be looking to put pressure on Munster at the top of the table.
This handicap was +14.5 Sharks early doors and has shifted slightly to +15.5. I suspect this one could go out further as kick off approaches.
The Bulls motivation is known and they have had a week off to prepare for this. The Sharks by contract were in London last week for an excellent Challenge Cup win. I suspect they could rest players but even if they don’t motivational levels could be less than optimum.
I am going to get in ahead of team selection and this may well make the Newsletter Best Bet.
The total points line of 58.5 looks high for a Durban game.
BET: 6 units Bulls -15.5 at 19/20 at WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Subscribe to our free weekly betting mailer which will include our best and value bets below.
