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URC PREVIEW: Sharks looking to bounce back against Ospreys while leaders Leinster host second-placed Ulster

The URC heads into the halfway mark of the round robin stages, with the return of many Test players set to lift the standard this weekend. The pick of the round sees the top two clash in Dublin.
Image Copyright - Deon van der Merwe - Steve Haag Sports

The URC heads into the halfway mark of the round-robin stages, with the return of many Test players set to lift the standard this weekend. The pick of the round sees the top two clash in Dublin.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Friday 2 December

Sharks 1/10 | Draw 30/1 | Ospreys 6/1

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

The Sharks head into the weekend under huge pressure after their 0-35 drubbing at the hands of Cardiff, followed by the immediate departure of head coach Sean Everitt. They’ve named a proper no-nonsense side for this one, with the return of a number of Springboks and the reinstatement of Curwin Bosch at No 10 sure to lift the quality of performance.

Ospreys have lost their last three away matches, including last week’s 26-43 defeat in Pretoria. They’re 14th after picking up just one win all season and won’t match the physicality of the Sharks’ pack without their Welsh internationals.

Back a resurgent Sharks side to win big at the Tank.

Edinburgh 64/100 | Draw 18/1 | Munster 27/20

Handicap
Edinburgh (-2.5) 17/20 | Munster (+2.5) 17/20

Edinburgh’s impressive three-game winning run came to a halt at Benetton last week after a failure to capitalise on an early Matteo Minozzi red card led to a 17-24 defeat. That result allowed the top four to put some daylight between themselves and the fifth-placed Scottish side, though they remain four points clear at the top of the Scottish/Italian Shield.

Munster bounced back from consecutive losses against Leinster and Ulster to record a 24-17 win over Connacht in the last round. The Red Army are now ninth, just two points shy of the playoff spots as they look to salvage their season heading into the midway point.

The return of the internationals will boost both sides, but Edinburgh should just about have the goods at home.

Munster on the plus here.

Saturday 3 December

Stormers 1/33 | Draw 40/1 | Dragons 11/1

Handicap
Stormers (-23.5) 17/20 | Dragons (+23.5) 17/20

The fourth-placed Capetonians remained level on points with the Bulls (third) following their 36-19 BP win over Scarlets last week. While John Dobson is giving most of his top Boks an extended break this December following a gruelling international season, his non-Bok players showed they were more than capable of getting the job done a week ago in what was a very impressive performance from the defending champs.

Dragons’ three wins so far are already one more than they achieved throughout the entirety of last term. Although they did cop a 25-33 loss in Johannesburg last week, Dean Ryan’s charges still occupy second spot on the Welsh Shield and are 11th overall. They remain in the fight for a respectable finish this season. That said, they aren’t on the Stormers’ level.

The hosts should clear the handicap.

Zebre 36/10 | Draw 28/1 | Glasgow Warriors 1/5

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

The Italian outfit heads into this one off the back of a 15-36 defeat in Belfast but have another shot at recording their first win of the tournament against Warriors here. Fabio Roselli’s men are always a different prospect at home and key for them will be challenging Glasgow for the full 80 minutes on Saturday.

Unfortunately for Zebre though, the visitors were pumped 40-5 at the RDS in the last round and will feel they have a point to prove in this one. The return of some quality internationals will give them a big boost as they look to climb the ladder but it shouldn’t be a runaway victory at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

Zebre on the plus.

Connacht 1/4 | Draw 22/1 | Benetton 32/10

Handicap
Connacht (-9.5) 17/20 | Benetton (+9.5) 17/20

As things stand, it’s going to take a mighty effort to improve on last season’s 11th-place finish for the 2016 Pro12 champs. With the recent announcement that director of rugby Andy Friend will be parting ways with the club at the end of the current campaign, and having already lost three of their four Irish derbies this term, Connacht are in dire need of some positive results.  

Eighth-placed Benetton are having a fine campaign by their standards, but their away form is cause for concern. They’ve lost all three of their away matches so far and although they head into this one fresh from a triumph over Edinburgh, a desperate Connacht outfit should have their number in Galway.

Connacht will claim the win, but they shouldn’t clear the handicap.

Bulls 2/15 | Draw 33/1 | Cardiff 52/10

Handicap
Bulls (-14.5) 17/20 | Cardiff (+14.5) 17/20

The Bulls should be wary of a confident Cardiff outfit here given the latter’s tremendous performance a week ago in blanking the Sharks at a rain-soaked Hollywoodbets Kings Park. Last season’s runners-up produced another solid display to see off Ospreys 43-26 and remain in third spot on the overall standings, though they are level with the Stormers on 29-points having played a game more. With a trip to Cape Town coming up this month, the SA Shield leaders can’t afford to slip up in the interim.

Cardiff will take great heart from their Durban display, although they will be in for a much tougher examination of their playoff credentials this week. Dai Young’s troops top the Welsh Shield and lie sixth on the combined log, a fantastic position for most, but the physicality of the Bulls should overwhelm them.

The Bulls will clear the handicap at altitude.

Leinster 21/100 | Draw 25/1 | Ulster 7/2

Handicap
Leinster (-10.5) 17/20 | Ulster (+10.5) 17/20

The game of the weekend sees the top two square off for the second time this season. Leaders Leinster are eight points clear at the summit, albeit having played a game more than their opponents this week but do boast an important psychological edge here. Leo Cullen’s charges claimed a vital 20-13 win in Belfast at the end of September; to date the only match Ulster have lost and one which provided Leinster with daylight at the top.

The result of this one will have massive implications for the remainder of the season, with a win for the hosts extending their overall lead, and one for Ulster putting them right back in the fight for first. On top of that, the Northern Irish outfit (30 log points) also have the added pressure of the Bulls and Stormers (29 points apiece) breathing down their neck.

This is going to be a tight one, with Leinster set to edge it. I’m all over Ulster at (+10.5) 17/20.

Sunday 4 December

Lions 21/100 | Draw 25/1 | Scarlets 7/2

Handicap
Lions (-11.5) 17/20 | Scarlets (+11.5) 17/20

The Lions will be eager to bag a fifth win this campaign when Scarlets visit Emirates Airline Park on Sunday. The much-improved Joburgers are seventh and look set to be right in the mix for a playoff berth this season after their narrow miss last time out. They should have no trouble seeing off the men from Llanelli here.

Scarlets’ 36-19 defeat to the Stormers last week was their third in a row, with confidence at the club at an all-time low. Dwayne Peel’s side are 15th with just one win and should struggle at altitude.

 The Lions will take this one with ease. Back them to win big.

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