The Hollywoodbets Sharks are back at home to tackle the Lions in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The Sharks will be targeting a big win here in a bid to kickstart what has been a difficult season thus far. A full five-point haul will lift them from the foot of the table up to 13th.
Sharks 31/100 | Draw 25/1 | Lions 51/20
Handicap
Sharks (-7.5) 9/10 | Lions (+7.5) 9/10
The Hollywoodbets Sharks showed improvement in their one-point defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town last week, but their scrummaging and overall discipline proved to be their Achilles’ heel.
Aside from the three penalties they conceded at scrum time, their total of 16 completely negated any momentum they managed to achieve and provided the hosts with the platform they needed to see out the encounter.
Curwin Bosch’s boot should put the Sharks in the right areas on Saturday at what will be a humid Hollywoodbets Kings Park. The return of Eben Etzebeth will also bolster John Plumtree’s side’s pack who will be eager to right the wrongs of Cape Town.
While the Lions won’t present the Sharks with quite the same challenge at set piece as did the Stormers, the Joburgers have won their last four on the bounce in all competitions and will be confident of potentially adding to the hosts’ woes this season.
Having last played on 16 December though, shaking off the rust will be key if they are to deliver what would be an impressive upset.
The Lions are 12th, six points off the top eight and with plenty yet to play for but will struggle to match what should be a hungry Sharks outfit here.
Verdict: Sharks (-7.5) 9/10
The Hollywoodbets Sharks to deliver the goods and kick off the new year with a solid win.
