The second of Saturday's United Rugby Championship South African derby matches comes from Durban where the Sharks clash with the Bulls.
Sharks v Bulls, Saturday 21st December, Durban, KO 18:00 (South African time)
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Weather Forecast – Durban
Sharks:
The Sharks are back in URC action after playing playing 2 Champions Cup pool games, they won the first at home to Exeter Chiefs (39-21) but last week they were no match for the Tigers who dished out a 56-17 hiding in Leicester.
Back to the URC and with a record of 4 wins and 2 defeats for 19 log points the Sharks can be found in sixth position in the standings and in the outright betting they are 12/1 to win the URC title.
After a mixed tour delivered defeats at Connacht and Benetton either side a narrow win at the Dragons the Sharks returned to Durban and reeled off 3 wins. Their first home game of the season saw them beat the defending champions Glasgow Warriors 28-24, they also put Munster away 41-24 and in Round 7 their first local derby of the campaign at home to the Stormers delivered a 21-15 victory.
Bulls:
The Bulls Champions Cup pool matches over the course of the last 2 weeks both ended in defeat, away to Saracens (27-5) and last week at home to Northampton Saints (30-21).
In the URC the picture is much brighter and a record of 5 wins and 1 defeat from their first 6 outings puts the Bulls in third spot with 24 log points, 3 shy of Glasgow Warriors and 10 adrift of Leinster (all SA sides have a game in hand on the European's). In the outright betting to win the URC title the Bulls are 9/2 second favourites with WSB.
The Bulls only defeat of the season came in Round 5 when they were edged out 23-22 away to the Scarlets but they won 3 other matches on tour. Earlier home games delivered wins over Edinburgh (22-16) and Ulster (47-21).
In last season's URC head to heads with the Sharks the Bulls won 44-10 at Loftus in Round 7 and they also came out on top in Durban (26-14).
Team News
Sharks: 15 Apehelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw (captain), 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Cameron Hanekom, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Sergeal Petersen, 23 Devon Williams
The Betting,
Updated 20 Dec 09h01
Sharks -4.5 points at 9/10
Bulls +5.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 20 Dec 08h48
This handicap opened -5.5 Sharks which is exactly where I set it. There has been some money for the Bulls though and at the time of writing they are +4.5 in places (edit incorrectly said +3.5).
The Sharks are missing Etzebeth, Bongi and Am and they face a Bulls side that will be stung by the home defeat to the Saints next week.
Having initially leaned Sharks I am swinging the Bulls way and will take the +5.5 currently on offer at Hollywood.
There are no points lines yet and any additional bets will be posted in the forum.
Bet: 4 units Bulls +5.5 at 9/10 at Hollywoodbets
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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