The 2024/25 URC season gets underway this weekend, and while the South African franchises will join a week late, there are still plenty of clashes to look forward to. Shaun Goosen previews.
Friday 20 September
Edinburgh 24/10 | Draw 22/1 | Leinster 1/3 (20:35)
Edinburgh will look to push on after one season under Sean Everitt that nearly (and arguably should) have resulted in a quarter-final berth. They should be even more competitive this term, but unfortunately for them they’ve drawn Leinster first up which isn’t exactly the ideal way to kickstart your campaign.
Leinster will travel to the Scottish capital with what should be a renewed desire to end their URC drought. While they were slightly off the pace in finishing third last season, they still boast a formidable round-robin record in the competition and should see off their hosts on Friday.
Verdict: Leinster 1/3
Leinster to start their campaign with a victory in Edinburgh.
Cardiff 1/10 | Draw 33/1 | Zebre 11/2 (20:35)
Cardiff aren’t expected to significantly improve on their 12th-place finish from last season, but picking up home wins over the likes of Zebre will be a non-negotiable for Matt Sherratt and his troops. They should get the job done.
Zebre picked up just a single win last term and while they will take heart from the good form they showed at the beginning of their previous campaign, they shouldn’t have enough to beat Cardiff at the Arms Park.
Verdict: Cardiff minus
Cardiff should really clear this handicap at home.
Saturday 21 September
Dragons 19/10 | Draw 20/1 | Ospreys 9/20 (15:00)
Dragons won this tie last year 20-5 in a result that made up one of the three wins they collected in the entirety of their campaign. That will surely serve to boost Dai Flanagan’s outfit heading into the first round against last season’s Welsh Shield winners.
Ospreys will have a massive job on their hands if they’re to qualify for a second consecutive quarter-final and collecting wins against fellow Welsh clubs certainly won’t hurt their chances. Even away from Swansea they should have enough quality to earn the result at Rodney Parade.
Verdict: Ospreys 9/20
Ospreys to get off to a strong start in Newport.
Munster 1/4 | Draw 28/1 | Connacht 3/1 (18:30)
After putting in all the work to finish first only to fall in the semi-finals last season, it’ll be interesting to see how Munster respond this term. They begin their season by welcoming Connacht to Thomond Park for an Irish derby tie which they won 47-12 last time out and will be angling for a similar result come the weekend.
The Galway club were well off the pace last season, finishing 11th, and only a big push will see them come close to replicating their semi-final progression of two campaigns ago. Winning this derby clash first up will give them plenty in the way of confidence, and they should come close, but ultimately Munster will be too good at home.
Verdict: Connacht on the plus
Get on the visitors to go down fighting in Limerick.
Benetton 3/10 | Draw 25/1 | Scarlets 26/10 (20:35)
Benetton will be eager to match their seventh-place finish of last season and can start by beating a side that outplayed them 16-13 in Llanelli last term. Marco Bortolami’s side are one with the habit of continually going beyond themselves, but Scarlets are a club very much within their weight class and should hence be dispatched at the Stadio Comunale Monigo.
Like the rest of the Welsh contingent, Scarlets could be in for another long season and while they should struggle against the competition big dogs, a win over the Treviso club is hardly out of the question. Still, it’s unlikely they will get one over a club with so many Italy internationals.
Verdict: Scarlets on the plus
The hosts to hold off Scarlets on Saturday.
Ulster 6/10 | Draw 20/1 | Glasgow Warriors 14/10 (20:45)
Ulster are due a big season following their underwhelming showings last time out, and the challenge of hosting the defending champions straight out the gate will certainly prove tricky. The Kingspan faithful will back them, but a Glasgow unit with all the momentum from their title win behind them could destabilise Richie Murphy’s plans.
Now without the element of surprise that worked wonders for them last season, Warriors will have to rely on a game plan evolution if they’re to do it all again. Ulster away represents a formidable opening encounter, but confidence in the side should still be at an all-time high and enough to see them surpass the Northern Irishmen to get the defence of their title underway in the best possible fashion.
Verdict: Glasgow plus
I’m on the Warriors to triumph in Belfast. But the handicap looks a good option if you’re looking for a safer play.
