The South African URC sides are all at home this weekend as European opposition arrive in the Republic will need to deal with heat, altitude and a few SA teams with points to prove. Shaun Goosen previews.
Friday 11 March
Sharks 1/10 | Draw 28/1 | Scarlets 6/1 (19:10)
The Sharks host Scarlets at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday with momentum on their side. The Durbanites are on a two-game winning run and will be eager to take advantage of their upcoming schedule with seven home matches in succession before they travel to Ulster in the final round of regular season action. Indeed, they have a big chance to improve on their current position of eighth in the weeks ahead and should get off to a positive start by dispatching an inconsistent Scarlets team here.
The Sharks should win this one fairly comfortably down at the Tank.
Saturday 12 March
Bulls 4/10 | Draw 20/1 | Munster 21/10 (16:05)
The Bulls will be up against it when they host a powerful Munster side at Loftus on Saturday. The hosts have been indifferent in their debut campaign, thus far having collected four wins from 10 to sit three points off the playoff spots in 11th. This week they host third-placed Munster, who’ve garnered eight wins from 11 and look set to be a real force in the playoffs. The returns of Springboks Morne Steyn and Damian de Allende will boost their respective sides, but you’d have to think the Irish giants will sneak this one.
Even at altitude, I fancy the Irish side to come away with a narrow win here. Big value at 21/10.
Ulster 88/100 | Draw 20/1 | Leinster 98/100 (21:35)
The clash of the round pits second against first as Ulster and Leinster meet at the Kingspan on Saturday. The hosts trail Leinster by four log points but can go level with a victory here. Both teams are currently on four-game unbeaten runs and the intensity and ferocity likely to be on show come kick-off could mirror that of a Test match. It was Ulster who claimed a 20-10 win in the reverse fixture in November and they may just earn a rare double over their bitter rivals this weekend.
Leinster haven’t been their all-conquering selves this season and I reckon they may slip up against a highly motivated Ulster outfit.
Sunday 13 March
Lions 43/100 | Draw 20/1 | Cardiff 2/1 (16:00)
The struggling Lions host Cardiff at Emirates Airlines Park on Sunday desperate for a win. Cash van Rooyen’s men are 14th after a miserable debut campaign that has seen them win just twice in 10 attempts, the last of which came five games ago against the Stormers in the Cape. Cardiff are one place above the Lions on the standings but the hosts’ sheer desperation could mean Cardiff get the blues here.
Home advantage should be enough to get the Lions over the line against Cardiff.
Stormers N/A | Draw 45/1 | Zebre 15/1 (18:05)
The Stormers host winless Zebre at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday. John Dobson’s men are one place and two points behind the Sharks in ninth overall and, like the Durbanites, will be keen to make the most of their upcoming seven successive home games. The Italian side have accumulated just one win so far in the competition and should be no match for the Stormers at home.
Expect the Cape side to walk all over the Italians here.
