After taking maximum points from their first two United Rugby Championship home matches the Bulls head off on tour where their next assignment comprises of a clash with Ulster in Belfast on Saturday.
Ulster v Bulls, Saturday 11th October, Belfast, KO 20:45 (South African time)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland) & Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Colin Brett (Scotland)
Weather Forecast - Belfast
Ulster:
Ulster's scheduled Round 2 clash away to Edinburgh was postponed but they did take the maximum 5 log points from their only game so far. A 42-21 home victory over the Dragons in Round 1 saw them run in 6 tries including 1 for Nathan Doak who also landed 5 conversions.
Last season Ulster lost both tour matches in SA, at the Lions (35-22) and then the Bulls (47-21) in Rounds 2 and 3. In home fixtures they beat the Stormers (38-34) in Round 14 but lost to the Sharks (22-19) in Round 16.
After this Ulster will head to South Africa to take on the Sharks and then the Lions.
In the outright betting to win the URC title Ulster 70/1 with Hollywoodbets
Bulls:
The Bulls had to work hard to shake off Leinster at Loftus in Round 2 but they eventually came out on top 39-31 in a cracking contest. The Bulls held off a Lenister fight back and scored 6 tries to 4 to land a bonus point for the second successive week which saw them finish Round 2 a point clear at the top of the standings.
The Bulls hosted the Ospreys at Loftus in Round 1 and they turned around a 26-19 half time deficit to run out winners 53-40, scoring 9 tries and conceding 6.
After this the Bulls visit Connacht and then Glasgow Warriors.
In the outright betting to win the URC title the Bulls are the shortest price of the South African sides at 4/1 second favourites with Hollywoodbets
Team News
Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 David McCann, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Sam Crean
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Jude Postlethwaite
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar (c), 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 David Kriel, 23 Willie le Roux
The Betting,
Average early show
Ulster +4.5 points at 9/10
Bulls -4.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
This Weeks Bets
Brent Graham's betting angle and plays for Round 3 of the URC will be available on this blog.
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