In the fourth round of the URC, the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Stormers conclude their overseas tours, while the Lions and Bulls begin theirs. The pick of the round sees Leinster and Munster collide in Dublin.
Friday 11 October
N/A Glasgow Warriors | Draw 40/1 | Zebre 14/1
Handicap
Glasgow (-27.5) 9/10 | Zebre (+27.5) 9/10
Glasgow picked up their second successive win after downing Cardiff 52-36 at the Arms Park a week ago and should have no trouble seeing off Zebre here. The Italian outfit were beaten 36-5 by the Stormers in Parma last time out and won’t have the minerals to challenge Warriors at the Scotstoun, despite their recent win over Munster.
Verdict: Warriors on the minus
Glasgow to pick up a routine bonus-point win.
Saturday 12 October
36/100 Cardiff | Draw 22/1 | Scarlets 23/10
Handicap
Cardiff (-7.5) 9/10 | Scarlets (+7.5) 9/10
Both Cardiff and Scarlets will be looking to bounce back from round three defeats, with the latter being one of three teams left in the competition still searching for their first win of the season.
The hosts’ home loss to Glasgow last time out was their first of the campaign, but victory here should put them in an even stronger position on the Welsh Shield standings.
Verdict: Cardiff
This should be a typically tight Welsh derby affair, but Cardiff will get the job done at home.
74/100 Benetton | Draw 20/1 | Hollywoodbets Sharks 23/20
Handicap
Benetton (-2.5) 9/10 | Sharks (+2.5) 9/10
Benetton were simply no match for a full-strength Leinster outfit a week ago, falling to a 30-point defeat at the Stadio Comunale in a performance that has left last season’s quarterfinalists languishing at the very foot of the table.
Marco Bortolami’s boys will get another shot at a first win against a Sharks team that struggled with their discipline in the last round.
John Plumtree lamented a lack of intensity last week, saying his side has plenty of improving to do this season. Still, they showed real fight to beat the Dragons in the final play of the game and a more cohesive showing over the full 80 minutes should be enough to pick up a second win on tour.
Verdict: Sharks to win
The visitors to down Benetton at home.
57/100 Edinburgh | Draw 20/1 | Stormers 15/10
Handicap
Edinburgh (-4.5) 9/10 | Stormers (+4.5) 9/10
Edinburgh’s season went from bad to worse in a massive 55-21 loss to the Lions in Joburg last week. At halftime, they were 48-0 down and even with their home support behind them this Saturday, it’s difficult to envisage them getting a first win over the Stormers.
The Capetonians eased past Zebre in round three, and they should keep Edinburgh winless if they stick to their structures and don’t get too fancy.
Verdict: Stormers
The Stormers to heap more misery on Edinburgh.
1/10 Leinster | Draw 25/1 | Munster 6/1
Handicap
Leinster (-14.5) 9/10 | Munster (+14.5) 9/10
The game of the weekend at Croke Park pits a Leinster outfit with a three-from-three record against old foes Munster.
For the first time this season, Leo Cullen named his strongest available team for their game at Benetton and while their 35-5 win wasn’t as comprehensive as some might have expected, they’ll be all the better for that hit-out ahead of this one.
Munster go into the encounter off the back of a morale-boosting 23-0 win over Ospreys in Limerick but may still be vulnerable following their shock defeat at Zebre a fortnight ago. It may still be early in the season, but in such an important game (and coming up against former player RG Snyman) defeat will be hugely significant.
Verdict: Leinster to win
Leinster to come out trumps and set themselves up for the rest of the campaign.
5/2 Ospreys | Draw 20/1 | Bulls 34/100
Handicap
Ospreys (+7.5) 9/10 | Bulls (-7.5) 9/10
After being blanked at Munster, the Ospreys will be searching for a big performance back at home, but whether they can handle the power of the Bulls’ front-rankers will go a long way to determining the outcome of this clash.
Spearheaded by their scrum dominance and the tactical brilliance of Willie Le Roux, the Bulls put Ulster to the sword 47-21 at Loftus. If they can produce a similar performance away from the comforts of Loftus, they should canter to a first win in their opening tour game.
Verdict: Bulls to win
The Bulls’ quality should see them to another win in Swansea.
57/100 Ulster | Draw 22/1 | Connacht 15/10
Handicap
Ulster (-4.5) 9/10 | Connacht (+4.5) 9/10
Back at the Kingspan following their struggles on tour, Ulster will be looking for a big derby performance against their tough old Western rivals.
Although they remain a team with the highest of ambitions, they are still finding their feet under Richie Murphy which could give Connacht the edge in what should be another tight encounter.
Connacht have turned in some standout showings so far and secured an all-important one-point win at Scarlets last time out. They are looking like dark horses this term and could ambush Ulster on their return home.
Verdict: Connacht to win
Get on the visitors to secure what would be their best result of the season so far.
Sunday 13 October
29/10 Dragons | Draw 20/1 | Lions 2/7
Handicap
Dragons (+8.5) 9/10 | Lions (-8.5) 9/10
Dragons were fantastic, at times, against the Sharks last week and will feel aggrieved at having conceded so late on to lose out on what would have been a valuable win.
Flanker Taine Basham and scrumhalf Rhodri Williams were positively talismanic for the side, and a similar showing here could see them get the better of a different Saffa team.
The Lions have banked all 10 log points on offer in their opening two fixtures, but the hard graft starts now with the commencement of their first Euro game of the season.
Their free-running style might not be so prevalent in Newport, and if they don’t get their basics right, they will feel the pressure from such a tactically shrewd side.
Verdict: Dragons to win
If Dragons can replicate their form of a week ago, they could deal the Lions their first defeat of the season.