The Lions and the Bulls return to United Rugby Championship action in a local derby in Johannesburg on Saturday with both teams looking to strengthen their play off credentials
Lions v Bulls, Saturday 25th January, Johannesburg, KO 14:45 (South African time)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), JD Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Weather Forecast – Johannesburg
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Lions:
The Lions Challenge Cup campaign saw them finish fourth in their pool and they will travel to Edinburgh in the Round of 16. Over the last couple of weeks they lost 28-5 at Montpellier before they dished out a 60-10 hiding to the Dragons at Ellis Park to go through with a record of 2 wins and 2 defeats.
In the URC the Lions have won 4 and lost 3 of their first 7 games, they have fallen out of the top 8 and are 3 points off a play off place but they have 1 and 2 games in hand on all the other sides except the Bulls. In the outright betting the Lions are 30/1 shots to win the URC title.
After winning each of their first 4 games (2 at home, 2 on tour) the Lions 100% record was snapped in a 24-6 defeat to Leinster in Dublin and in Round 7 they went down 17-10 at Munster. Just before Christmas they lost 29-10 away to the Stormers, their only SA derby so far this season.
Bulls:
Since their last URC action the Bulls wrapped up their Champions Cup campaign with the final 2 pool matches. A 49-10 defeat away to Castres in Round 3 put them out of contention but last weekends 48-7 thumping of Stade Francais at Loftus saw them take fifth place and qualify Challenge Cup Round of 16 where they will be away to Aviron Bayonnais.
In the URC the Bulls have a record of 5 wins and 2 defeats which puts them in fourth place with 25 points with 2 games in hand on Cardiff (28 points), Glasgow (33 points) and runaway leaders Leinster (43 points). In the outright betting to win the URC title the Bulls are 5/1 second favourites with WSB.
The Bulls only defeats of the season came in Round 5 when they were edged out 23-22 away to the Scarlets and on 21st December they went down 20-17 to the Sharks in Durban.
In last season's URC head to heads with the Lions the Bulls won 30-28 at Loftus and they also came out on top in Joburg (25-10).
Team News
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Franke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Manuel Rass
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrich Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Willie le Roux
The Betting,
Updated 25 Jan 10h16
Lions +4.5 points at 9/10
Bulls -3.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 24 Jan 09h44
This handicap has been stable at Lions +3.5 all week. I am going to wait for team news and points lines before posting a bet.
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Posted 25 Jan 00h11
The handicap is stable although Bulls are now -4.5 in places suggesting some money for the visitors. The points line is 56.5 and while conditions look hot but dry I am leaning unders but will wait for team points and trys lines before posting my bet.
Posted 25 Jan 10h25
The handicap remains stable at +3.5 Lions and I am battling for a firm angle on this one.
I threw under 56.5 into my newsletter acca sent out earlier (get on my mailing list here) but it is not a confident call and I am just hoping this turns into an arm wrestle.
I can see this game going down to the wire and while I may place a points bet in the forum for now either team to win by 7 or less inclusive of the draw.
BET: 2 units either team by 7 or less incl. draw at 27/20 at Betxchange
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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