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United Rugby Championship

PREVIEW: The URC returns with the Stormers tackling Leinster in Dublin epic

The URC is back this weekend for round 16, and the pick of the litter sees leaders Leinster take on the second-placed Stormers at the RDS, while the rest of the SA contingent are also on tour in Europe.
Steve Haag Sports

The URC is back this weekend for round 16, and the pick of the litter sees leaders Leinster take on the second-placed Stormers at the RDS, while the rest of the SA contingent are also on tour in Europe.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Friday 24 March

Zebre 3/1 | Draw 25/1 | Cardiff 1/4

Handicap
Zebre (+10.5) 9/10 | Cardiff (-10.5) 9/10

Zebre are running out of time to claim their first win this season with just three games remaining. With a trip to the South African highveld for matchups against the Bulls and Lions to come, facing Cardiff at the Sergio Lanfranchi here could be their last realistic shot at bagging that elusive victory.

10th-placed Cardiff still hold a slender four-point lead at the top of the Welsh Shield and sit five-points behind the quarterfinal berths. While it’s unlikely they’ll sneak their way into the playoffs, they’ll be eager to finish top of their region to earn Champions Cup footy next season.

Zebre have been good at home, but the visitors should just about have enough here.

Zebre on the plus.

Leinster 1/5 | Draw 28/1 | Stormers 38/10

Handicap
Leinster (-10.5) 9/10 | Stormers (+10.5) 9/10

The game of the weekend pits first against second at the RDS Arena, with the defending champs looking to inflict a first loss on unbeaten Leinster this season.

While it remains to be seen whether any of Ireland’s Grand Slammers will be selected by Leo Cullen, the hosts’ uncanny strength in depth means they still start as firm favourites. Leinster have all but wrapped up top spot again this season, but keeping intact their winning record heading into the knockouts will provide them with a major psychological advantage as they look to right the wrongs of last year.

For the Stormers, who welcome back their Springboks, victory here would be hugely significant in the context of their campaign. They’ve already claimed the SA Shield title for the second-successive season, but knocking over their Irish counterparts here would be an almighty statement of intent.

The Stormers have showed up when it’s mattered most this season. Get on them to do that again here and lay down a marker to the rest of the competition.

Stormers to take it at 38/10.

Saturday 25 March

Ospreys 23/100 | Draw 22/1 | Dragons 33/10

Handicap
Ospreys (-9.5) 9/10 | Dragons (+9.5) 9/10

Ospreys (13th) trail Welsh Shield leaders Cardiff by just four-points heading into the weekend, and with a top eight finish effectively out of the equation, their hopes at securing Champions Cup qualification may rest on the result of their final round clash in Swansea. Coming up against struggling neighbours Dragons here, you’d think the hosts will have the goods.

Dragons are 15th and all but assured of finishing the season there. While they may have claimed a 32-25 win in the reverse fixture in October, Ospreys’ added motivation should be too much for them.

Dragons on the plus.

Benetton 44/100 | Draw 20/1 | Lions 39/10

Handicap
Benetton (-5.5) 9/10 | Lions (+5.5) 9/10

Pound for pound, Benetton have been one of the competition’s best this season. Currently occupying ninth, just a point off the top eight, a strong finish to their campaign could see them progress to the quarterfinals in May, though they’ll need a lot to go their way from here on out. They’re always a vastly superior prospect at the Stadio Communale, and should have enough to see off the Joburgers here.

With rumours of a restless camp still doing the rounds, it’s difficult to know what to expect from the Lions (11th) in this one. They were buoyed by a great win over the Bulls at Loftus in the previous round but victory may just be out of reach for them in Treviso.

Benetton to clear the handicap.

Connacht 2/7 | Draw 20/1| Edinburgh 29/10

Handicap
Connacht (-8.5) 9/10| Edinburgh (+8.5) 9/10

Currently lying eighth, two-points off the seventh-placed Sharks, Connacht will be looking to not only hold onto their spot in the playoff bracket, but improve on their placing to secure Champions Cup participation next season. Seeing off Edinburgh here with a bonus-point win will be vital with Benetton breathing down their neck.

Edinburgh’s 5-10 record this season hardly inspires optimism. After a promising start, they’ve faded badly to find themselves 12th and winless in their last three.

Connacht to clear the handicap in Galway.

Scarlets 7/4 | Draw 20/1 | Sharks 5/10

Handicap
Scarlets (+4.5) 9/10 | Sharks (-4.5) 9/10

Scarlets staged a rousing comeback against Munster at Thomond Park in their last outing before ultimately going down in a high-scoring thriller, underlining their ability in spite of their difficulties this season. Sitting 14th but still with an outside chance of stealing away the Welsh Shield (they’re five off leaders Cardiff), they are not to be underestimated.

The Sharks are seventh after some disappointing showings of late. With two home URC fixtures to come after this one, and with their Springboks expected to be back, they’ll still be eager to push hard for a higher finish. Scarlets shouldn’t be able to stop them here.

Sharks on the minus.

Munster 17/100 | Draw 25/1| Glasgow Warriors 42/10

Handicap
Munster (-11.5) 9/10| Glasgow (+11.5) 9/10

Munster’s valiant fightback after their slow start to their campaign now sees them in fifth, with victory over fourth-placed Glasgow here set to leapfrog them into that position. With some key Irish internationals set return in time for the playoffs, Graham Rowntree’s side will still have a big say this season. Playing at home, they should just about have the edge on Warriors here.

Glasgow have been relentless since December, winning 10 of their last 12 in all comps to put themselves in a brilliant position from which to challenge for silverware this season. That said, they may just meet their match in Limerick.

Warriors on the plus.

Ulster 23/100 | Draw 22/1 | Bulls 34/10

Handicap
Ulster (-9.5) 9/10| Bulls (+9.5) 9/10

Despite some wobbly form midway through their season, Ulster have come out the other side and sit third with a home quarterfinal on the horizon. Five-points off the Stormers and clear of Glasgow by the same number, Dan McFarland’s charges can’t afford to rest on their laurels and still need results as the playoffs get closer.

The sixth-placed Bulls have been struggling big time of late, with four-straight losses heading into the weekend. Just two-points ahead of the Sharks on the log, they run serious risk of dropping further down the table in the lead up to the knockouts. Still, theirs is a proud squad who should run Ulster close in Belfast.

The Bulls on the plus.

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