The Sharks host the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship in Durban on Saturday and the home side start as favourites with the bookmakers
Sharks v Stormers, Saturday 30th November, Durban, KO 17:00 (South African time)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Weather Forecast – Durban
Sharks:
With a record of 3 wins and 2 defeats for 15 log points the Sharks can be found in ninth position in the standings and the SA sides have a game in hand on their European counterparts. In the outright betting the Sharks are 13.5/1 to win the URC title with BoyleSports.
After a mixed tour delivered defeats at Connacht and Benetton either side a narrow win at the Dragons the Sharks returned to Durban and to complete back to back wins. Their first home game of the season saw them beat the defending champions Glasgow Warriors 28-24 and last time out they put Munster away 41-24.
Stormers:
The Stormers finished the previous round in thirteenth position with 10 log points and they have 2 wins and 3 defeats against their name. In the outright betting to win the URC title the Stormers are 23/1 with BoyleSports.
The Stormers early season tour saw them lose at the Ospreys and at Edinburgh but they did beat Zebre in Parma. They had too much for Munster in their first home game, coming out on top 34-19 but their most recent outing against Glasgow Warriors in Stellenbosch ended in a 28-17 defeat.
The first of last season's head to heads with the Sharks came in Cape Town and the Stormers edged it 16-15. The return in Durban was also close and the Stormers prevailed again, 25-21.
Team News
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Emmanuel Tshituka, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Jordan Hendrikse
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Manie Libbok
The Betting,
Posted 29 November 14h37
Sharks -7.5 points at 9/10
Stormers +9.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
This handicap opened Sharks -6.5 and was stable all week, but moved quite dramatically when the Sharks named a very strong side. It went out to -9.5 and appears to have been stable after the Stormers themselves names a strong side.
Total Points punters can expect good conditions in Durban and any bets in this market will be posted in our rugby betting forum. The Sharks often don’t perform as well as you would expect them to given their strength in depth, but they started firing before the International break and I think they will defy recent history (Stormers 6 wins and a draw in last 7 head to head) and have too many guns for this Stormers team.
Betxchange are still -7.5 Sharks and that is where I am heading.
BET: 4 Units, Sharks -7.5 at 0.92/1 at Betxchange
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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