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PREVIEW: SA franchises all at home as URC playoff race reaches fever pitch

All four SA sides are at home in the penultimate weekend of round robin URC action with playoff spots on the line.
Leah Scholes/ BackpagePix

All four SA sides are at home in the penultimate weekend of round robin URC action with playoff spots on the line.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Friday 14 April

Sharks 1/11 | Draw 33/1 | Benetton

Handicap
Sharks (-15.5) 17/20 | Benetton (+15.5) 17/20

The Sharks’ playoff and Champions Cup hopes rest on a knife edge, with the Durbanites sitting eighth ahead of the weekend. They’ll be expected to pick up a good win over Benetton here, but the pressure is definitely on considering the Italians are just one-point and one-place below them.

The Treviso outfit have enjoyed a memorable season so far, having qualified for the Challenge Cup semi-finals at the end of the month where they will travel to Toulon. A win at Hollywoodbets Kings Park would be huge for them, but ultimately they should fall short.

Sharks on the minus.

Glasgow 1/8 | Draw 28/1 | Scarlets 54/10

Handicap
Glasgow (-13.5) 17/20 | Scarlets (+13.5) 17/20

Set to face one another in their upcoming Challenge Cup semi-final, a victory for either side could prove to be a vital psychological advantage. That said, it’s tricky not seeing Glasgow taking the spoils at the Scotstoun this weekend to keep intact their fourth-place standing.

Despite their impressive form of late, Scarlets won’t knock Warriors here, though it should be a close one as all derby games invariably are.

Scarlets on the plus.

Ulster 1/100 | Draw 40/1 | Dragons 13/1

Handicap
Ulster (-25.5) 17/20 | Dragons (+25.5) 17/20

With two games to end of their regular season campaign, Ulster’s primary objective will be to hold onto second place. And with struggling Dragons visiting the Kingspan, they should be one step closer by close of play on Friday.

Dragons have lost their last six in succession and shouldn’t trouble Ulster here.

With rain expected, Dragons on the plus should be the way to go.

Saturday 15 April

Bulls 1/50 | Draw 40/1 | Zebre 12/1

Handicap
Bulls (-23.5) 17/20 | Zebre (+23.5) 17/20

Sitting seventh, just a few points ahead of the chasing pack, the Bulls, like the Sharks cannot afford anything less than two wins over the coming fortnight. Luckily for them, they have winless Zebre up first.

The Bulls should have no trouble clearing the handicap.

Stormers 37/100 | Draw 20/1 | Munster 23/10

Handicap
Stormers (-6.5) 17/20 | Munster (+6.5) 17/20

The Stormers may be second, but they’ve got Ulster just two-points back heading into the final two rounds of the comp. Without Deon Fourie they aren’t as much of a threat on the floor, but their other strengths and awesome team culture should till power them to victory here.

Munster are fifth, just four points better off rivals Connacht and mean business, having brought their strongest available squad with them to the Republic. Unfortunately for the Red Army, it’s difficult seeing the defending champs losing out at home – though it should be a tight one.

Munster on the plus.

Connacht 32/100 | Draw 20/1 | Cardiff 26/10

Handicap
Connacht (-7.5) 17/20 | Cardiff (+7.5) 17/20

A four-game winning streak in the comp has powered Connacht into sixth outta nowhere. The men in green have a reputation for being tenacious and it looks like that quality is set to carry them into the knockouts this season.

Cardiff’s season has been rocky, having lost out to Benetton in their recent Challenge Cup quarterfinal and sitting 10th overall on the URC standings. That said, they’re four-points ahead of Ospreys on the Welsh Shield and will secure Champions Cup qualification if they can finish there. They could struggle this weekend though.

Connacht on the minus in the Galway rain.

Edinburgh 24/100 | Draw 22/1 | Ospreys 33/10

Handicap
Edinburgh (-9.5) 17/20 | Ospreys (+9.5) 17/20

Edinburgh have fallen off the wagon big time of late, with five losses from their last five in all comps. They’re 14th on the URC, a poor return for a side with so much quality, and they’ll be eager to finish their campaign on a high.

Ospreys are just four off Cardiff on the Welsh Shield log and can get closer to another Champions Cup berth with two wins from their final two. With more to play for, they should have Edinburgh’s number here.

Ospreys at 33/10 is a goodie.

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