There's a bit of musical chairs taking place in the Republic this week as the same four European URC sides travel to different parts of the country to face new South African opposition. While the Sharks look to have it easy against Zebre, the other SA sides might just battle a bit. Shaun Goosen previews.
Friday 18 March
Bulls 1/8 | Draw 25/1 | Scarlets 56/10 (19:10)
Handicap *tba
Bulls | Scarlets
The Bulls will be confident of picking up a third-successive win when Scarlets come knocking at Loftus Versfeld on Friday. Jake White’s men last week produced a very good first-half performance to see off third-placed Munster 29-24 in Pretoria, but the way in which they let the Irish province back into the game in the second stanza will be cause for concern (they went into the sheds leading 26-3). That said, the result could have been more convincing had it not been for the sending off of Bismarck du Plessis. They will be wary of facing a Scarlets team that showed some great moments in attack against the Sharks last week, but the hosts should outmuscle them here.
The Bulls should have the weaponry required to see off the Scarlets on the Highveld.
Glasgow Warriors 66/100 | Draw 22/1 | Edinburgh 13/10 (21:35)
Handicap *tba
Glasgow | Edinburgh
The Scottish derby sees Glasgow and Edinburgh clash at the Scotstoun on Friday. The bitter foes face each other for the first time this season with the sides level on points on the standings — the hosts sitting one place above Edinburgh in fourth courtesy of a superior points difference. With the fifth-placed Sharks threatening to usurp them, the result of this one will be crucial. It will be tight but the visitors may just fall short here.
I reckon Glasgow will sneak over the line against their neighbours.
Saturday 19 March
Lions 83/100 | Draw 20/1 | Munster 1/1 (14:00)
Handicap
Lions | Munster
The Lions will be hard-pressed to build on their good win last week when they tackle Munster at Emirates Airlines Park on Saturday. The men from Jozi arrested a five-game losing run when they beat Cardiff 37-20 in the previous round, but they may be up against it here. Third-placed Munster will be hurting from their defeat in Pretoria and will have a point to prove on Saturday. They will take plenty of confidence from the second-half performance against the Bulls, especially seeing as they blew their hosts away – albeit in a losing effort – at altitude.
Munster’s second-half performance from last week will have given them plenty of confidence. Expect them to bounce back strongly against the Lions.
Sharks | Draw | Zebre (18:30) *betting tba
Handicap
Sharks | Zebre
The Sharks can keep the fire going with another win over Zebre at Hollywoodbets Kings Park. Despite a largely underwhelming performance last week, the men in black and white managed to claim a bonus-point win over Scarlets to keep them well and truly in the hunt for a home quarterfinal berth. This Saturday, the sixth-placed Durbanites should make it four wins on the bounce against winless Zebre.
Get on the Sharks to cruise to a pretty straight-forward win against the dire Italians down in Durban
Sunday 20 March
Stormers 1/12 | Draw 33/1 | Cardiff 7/1 (14:00)
Handicap *tba
Stormers | Cardiff
The Stormers can expect a backlash from Cardiff at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday. The Welsh outfit have lost twice since upsetting Leinster in January, with their most recent result seeing them beaten by the Lions in Johannesburg. While they will be fired-up for this one, though, John Dobson’s Stormers have looked good at home and will be too much for Cardiff here.
Perhaps wait for the handicap to come out before having a bet. I reckon the Stormers should clear 14 points with relative ease.
