First plays fourth in the United Rugby Championship in Durban on Saturday as the Sharks host a Leinster side who lost their 100% record last week.

 

 

 

Sharks v Leinster, Saturday 29th March, Durban, KO 19:15 (South African time)

 

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

 

Weather Forecast – Durban

 

 

Sharks:

 

With 5 rounds of the regular URC season remaining the Sharks are in fourth spot with a record of 9 wins and 4 defeats for 44 log points. They are 1 point behind the third placed Bulls and 5 shy of Glasgow Warriors whilst log leaders Leinster are 14 points better off. Looking down fifth placed Cardiff are 9 points further back so the Sharks have some breathing space over the chasers.

 

 

The Sharks were 22.5 point favourites for last week's home fixture against Zebre but they made really hard work of it and needed a late try to edge the contest 35-35. In earlier matches against Irish opposition this season the Sharks went down 36-30 away to Connacht in Round 2 and they beat Munster 41-24 in Durban in Round 6..

 

After this the Sharks switch focus to the Challenge Cup and a visit to Lyon. The rest of the URC regular season sees them remain in Europe for trips to Edinburgh and Ulster before returning to Durban for games against the Ospreys and the Scarlets.

 

In the outright betting the Sharks are 11/1 to win the URC title with WSB.

 

Leinster:

 

Leinster went into last week's clash with the Bulls at Loftus with a perfect record of 12/12. They fielded an under strength side but still looked like stretching the sequence to 13 until late drama at scrum time led to a Bulls penalty which was landed and Leinster lost the game 21-20.

 

Leinster are still 9 points clear of Glasgow at the top of the standings. In earlier home games against South African sides this season they have seen off the Lions (24-6) in Round 6 and the Stormers (36-12) in Round 10.

 

After this Leinster will host Harlequins in the Champions Cup Round of 16 after they came through the pool stage of that competition with a 100% record. Their URC run in includes a home fixture against Glasgow in Round 18.

 

In the outright betting to win the URC title Leinster are 0.53/1 favourites with WSB.

 

Team News

 

Sharks: 15 Yaw Penxe, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Manu Tshituka, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter

 

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Liam Turner, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Ciarán Frawley, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Max Deegan (c), 7 Will Connors, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Diarmuid Mangan, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 John McKee, 1 Cian Healy

Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Rory McGuire, 19 Alan Spicer, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Henry McErlean

 

 

The Betting,

 

Updated 28 March 07h42

Sharks -8.5 points at 9/10

Leinster +8.5 points at 9/10

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

Betting Angle

 

Posted 28 March 07h45

This line opened -6.5 and given the Sharks performance last weekend it was initially surprising when the cap moved to -8.5 Sharks. 

This is due to Leinster having sent some key players back to prepare for their Champions Cup clash next week and although teams have not been announced I think the Sharks should get this done albeit they have burnt me so much in the past I am hesitant to back them and will wait for team news and points lines. 

 

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Posted 29 March 14h04 

The points line is 48.5 and I am expecting a more open game than the arm wrestle at Loftus last week. 

Humidity is a concern so a medium stake. 

 

BET: 4 units over 48.5 points at 10/11 at WSB 

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

 

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