The Bulls kick off their European Champions Cup campaign against Saracens at Loftus on Saturday and the home side start as the bookmakers favourites.
Bulls v Saracens, Saturday 9th December, Pretoria, KO 19:30 (South African time)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
Assistant Referees: Benoit Rousselet (Fra) , Filippo Russo (Ita)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls are faring best of the South African sides in the current United Rugby Championship season. They thrashed the Sharks 44-10 at Loftus last weekend to make it 5 wins (alongside 2 defeats) from their first 7 matches and they are third in the standings, 4 points off the pace being set by Leinster.
Focus now switches to the Champions Cup and after this the Bulls will visit Lyon, then Bristol Bears and they finish the pool stage at home to Bordeaux.
In the Champions Cup last season the Bulls won 2 and lost 2 of their pool matches before bowing out to Toulouse in the Round of 16. Those pool games included home wins over Lyon and Exeter but they lost to the same two sides away from home.
In the outright betting to win the Champions Cup the Bulls are 34/1 shots with BoyleSports
Saracens:
Saracens are packed with England internationals and they are currently fourth on the Gallagher Premiership log with a record of 5 wins and 3 defeats, just 2 points off the pace being set by Sale Sharks.
This will be the first time Saracens have met South African opposition in this competition. Last season they won 3 and lost 1 of their pool matches and they beat the Ospreys in the Round of 16 before bowing out to eventual champions La Rochelle away from home in the quarter finals.
After this Saracens host Connacht before a visit to Bordeaux and the finish up the pool stage at home to Lyon.
In the outright betting to win the Champions Cup Saracens are priced at 93/10 with BoyleSports
Team News
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Sergeal Petersen
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Andy Christie, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Alec Clarey, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Tom West, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Theo McFarland, 20 Toby Knight, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Olly Hartley, 23 Lucio Cinti
The Betting
Bulls -4.5 points at 9/10
Saracens +5.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
There was some -3.5 Bulls early doors but the line has been stable at -5.5 most of the week.
I am leaning Bulls -5.5 but not strong and will wait for points lines before posting a bet.
Update 9 December 09h50
The handicap has been fairly stable although I sense some money for the visitors at +5.5 with the line now 4.5 in places.
I was initially leaning overs on points based on recent Bulls games but on Thursday nights THE HANDICAP forum stalwart Coil made the point that Sarries are sending a strong team and will likely adopt a conservative approach. If this game stays close it could get a bit scrappy and I am thinking the 55.5 points line is a touch high.
Stay close to our forum thread for more bets
BET: 5 units under 55.5 points at 17/20 at Sportingbet*
*If you don’t have a Sportingbet account please use this link to open one
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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