Bristol Bears host the Bulls in a crucial European Champions Cup Pool 1 clash on Saturday and the early betting suggests there will be very little between the sides.
Bristol Bears v Bulls, Saturday 13th January, Bristol, KO 17:15 (South African time)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Vivien Praderie (Fra) , Jonathan Gasnier (Fra)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (Fra)
Weather Forecast - Bristol
Bristol:
Bristol have 1 win and 1 defeat against their name. They have 5 log points, the same as Saracens and the Bulls whilst Lyon have 7 and Bordeaux 9. Looking down Connacht have just the1 point.
The Bears began their campaign with a 36-34 home win over Lyon. They led that game 33-10 at one stage in the second half but Lyon fought back to take the lead before a last gasp drop goal rescued the victory. The Bears were in Bordeaux for their second outing and a youthful side went down 36-17. After this the Bears finish up the pool stage away to Connacht.
In the Gallagher Premiership the Bears are in eighth spot with a record of 5 wins and 6 defeats.
In the outright betting to win the Champions Cup Bristol are 270/1 rank outsiders with BoyleSports
Bulls:
The Bulls took the scalp of Saracens in their opening match. After leading 20-6 at half time they eventually came out on top 27-16 but their tally of 3 tries was 1 short of what was required for a bonus point.
For the Round 2 visit to Lyon the Bulls left a number of regular starters at home. They led 18-12 at half time but the French side turned things around to edge it 29-28 and with a try count of 5-3 to Lyon the Bulls had to settle for 1 losing bonus point.
That leaves the Bulls as 1 of 3 sides on 5 points in this pool ahead of this match and their final pool game at home to Bordeaux.
The Bulls lost 26-20 away to the Stormers in the URC over Xmas and they are sixth in the current standings in that competition with 5 wins and 3 defeats but they have a game in hand on all the sides above them.
In the outright betting to win the Champions Cup the Bulls are 13/1 shots with BoyleSports
Team News
Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 5 Joe Batley, 4 Josh Caulfield, 3 George Kloska, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Sam Grahamslaw
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Virimi Vakatawa, 23 Rich Lane
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Mpilo Gumede,, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Tiaan Lange, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Ruan Nortjé, 20 Deon Slabbert, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Henry Immelman
The Betting
Bristol Bears -3.5 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
The Bulls are missing a few of their Boks and that was the reason the handicap opened -1.5 Bears and went out to -3.5 earlier in the week. The line continues to push out although there is still -3.5 on offer.
I think the Bears will have enough to cover the spread in front of their fans.
Stay close to our forum thread where I will post any additional bets and other punters share their plays
BET: 4 units Bears -3.5 at 9/10 at Betxchange
More bets from our rugby punters are available on our discussion forum.
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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