The Sharks travel to Wales to take on Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday and the visitors know a victory could see them finish the round in the top 4.
Cardiff v Sharks, Saturday 25th January, Cardiff, KO 19:15 (South African time)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Mike English (Wales), Gwyn Morris (Wales)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Weather Forecast - Cardiff
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Cardiff:
Cardiff finished fourth in the recently completed Challenge Cup pool stage with a record of 1 win and 3 defeats. Their only win came back in Round 2 against South African opposition when they beat the Cheetahs 26-10 at The Arms Park. Over the last couple of weeks they lost 23-20 away to USAP and 28-19 at home to Connacht who they will also visit in the Ro16 next month.
Cardiff are going well in the URC and a record of 5 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats and they finished the previous round in third spot with 28 log points. Their home record comprises of a win over Zebre, defeats to Glasgow and the Scarlets and wins over Ulster and the Dragons plus a draw with the Ospreys.
At home to South African opposition last season Cardiff lost to the Bulls (18-12) but beat the Stormers 31-24. In SA they lost 34-13 at the Lions but beat the Sharks 36-14.
Cardiff are 125/1 shots in the outright betting to win the URC title this season.
Sharks:
After a fifth place finish in the Champions Cup pool stage the Sharks will also be involved in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup where they will travel to Lyon. Over the last fortnight they lost at home to Toulouse (20-8) and then crashed 66-12 in Bordeaux. However a record of 1 win and 3 defeats was enough to parachute into the Challenge Cup knockout rounds of a competition they won last season.
The Sharks URC record comprises of 5 wins and 3 defeats for 24 log points, they finished the previous round in fifth position in the standings with a game in hand on the European's and in the outright betting they are 12/1 to win the URC title.
Their only win overseas this season came in Wales, 33-30 against the Dragons back in Round 3. More recently they played back to back SA derby matches, edging out the Bulls 20-17 in Durban before going down to the Stormers 24-20 in Cape Town.
Team News
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Tom Bowen, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Josh McNally (c), 3 Rhys Litterick, 2 Daf Hughes, 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Will Davies-King, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Ethan Lloyd, 22 Jacob Beetham, 23 Regan Grace
Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18, Vincent Koch, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Francois Venter, 23 Lukhanyo Am
The Betting,
Updated 25 Jan 10h33
Cardiff +9.5 points at 9/10
Sharks -9.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 24 Jan 09h49
This handicap has been stable at Cardiff +8.5 all week. I am going to wait for team news and points lines before posting a bet.
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Posted 25 Jan 00h07
The points line is 44.5 and I am tempted by overs as conditions don't look that bad and it is an artifical pitch. The handicap has edged out a point to -9.5.
I am going to sleep on this and will wait for Sharks points and try lines tomorrow.
Posted 25 Jan 11h42
The handicap is stable at +9.5 Cardiff and the points line ranges from 44.5 to 46.5
I think the Sharks will be too strong but find myself coming back to overs. The weather doesn't look too bad and it is an artifical pitch.
BET: 4 units over 44.5 points at 9/10 at Pokerbet
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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