United Rugby Championship Predictions – Round 15

The Bulls and the Stormers will be determined to bounce back as the race for a home United Rugby Championship playoff intensifies this weekend, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

With both sides having slipped up at home last weekend, losing is not an option on Saturday if they want to force their way into the top four. The Bulls tackle the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld while the Stormers lock horns with log leaders Leinster.

Meanwhile, the Lions will look to bolster their chances of breaking into the elite eight when they welcome defending champions Munster to Ellis Park. But first, the Sharks are hunting a win in Wales as they square off against the Scarlets on Friday night.

Scarlets v Sharks

Friday, 26 April – 20:35

There was a semblance of victory in defeat for the Sharks in Glasgow last weekend. The second-stringers showed good grit after a poor start and they were outstanding defensively to keep the Warriors scoreless in the second half.

That will give them confidence that they can pick up a win against a Scarlets side who are one place below them in 14th, were thumped 43-18 by Edinburgh last weekend and have managed just a solitary win in 2024.

With a bit more composure to bring the penalty count down, the Durbanites should get it done.

Prediction: Sharks by 3.

Suggested Bet: Scarlets +6 at 1.84.

Ulster v Benetton

Friday, 26 April – 20:35

Though they came away with a win last weekend – edging Cardiff 19-17 – something just isn’t clicking for Ulster. They have the talent and should be among the title contenders but a disconnect has them down in 10th place.

Benetton continued their good season with a 36-19 win over the Dragons to move ahead of the Stormers in fifth position and are very tempting underdogs. However, Belfast is a notoriously tough place for visitors to get a victory, so Ulster should sneak it. 

Prediction: Ulster by 4.

Suggested Bet: Benetton +14 at 1.84.

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors

Saturday, 27 April – 14:00

After frustratingly missing out on the four-try bonus point in the 21-10 win over the Sharks last weekend, this game in Parma is all about ensuring they pick up maximum points for the Warriors.

The second-placed Scots will do just that as they have far too much sting for the bottom-dwelling Italians, who leaked 50 points last weekend.

Prediction: Glasgow Warriors by 19.

Suggested Bet: Zebre +20.5 at 1.81.

Bulls v Ospreys

Saturday, 27 April – 15:00

The Ospreys should brace themselves for a Bulls backlash after Johan Goosen’s 54th-minute red card cost the men from Pretoria dearly last weekend. The 27-22 loss to Munster saw them drop from third to fourth place on the standings and would’ve lit a fire under them that should see them come out guns blazing.

Fresh off a famous win over the Stormers, their first away triumph since January 2023, the Ospreys will be full of belief. They play a clever kicking game and are proficient at stripping the ball in contact, but they’ll be unable to contain a fired-up Bulls side, who should win comfortably.

Prediction: Bulls by 15.

Suggested Bet: Ospreys +19.5 at 1.82.

Cardiff v Edinburgh

Saturday, 27 April – 16:05

For a team who’re out of the playoff picture, Cardiff played with a lot of hunger to push Ulster close last weekend. Now back at home, they’re hoping to earn just their fourth win of the season. Eighth-placed Edinburgh stormed to a 43-18 win over the Scarlets last weekend and have the muscle upfront to soften up their hosts and leave the Welsh capital victorious.

Prediction: Edinburgh by 7.

Suggested Bet: Edinburgh -2 at 1.81.

Lions v Munster

Saturday, 27 April – 17:00

The Lions’ attacking excellence in their 44-12 lashing of Leinster last weekend grabbed all the attention but of even more importance, as it relates to their next challenge, was their resolute defence.

The period just before halftime, when they held off wave after wave of attacks to ensure they kept the Irishman scoreless heading into the break, was particularly impressive and is the standard they’ll seek to maintain against Munster.

The defending champions, as they showed against the Bulls, play Test match-like rugby where territory is king. Therefore, discipline will be key for the Lions as playing too much rugby in their own half would prove counterproductive.

They would’ve worked hard on ironing out their lineout issues this week and with this set piece shored up and their cohesion on attack and defence, I’m tipping the pride of Johannesburg to pip it as underdogs.

Prediction: Lions by 2.

Suggested Bet: Lions at 2.80.

Stormers v Leinster

Saturday, 27 April – 19:05

After a shambolic showing in the shock loss to the Ospreys last weekend, the real Stormers need to stand up on Saturday. Their performance against the Welsh outfit was as poor as it gets; they were reckless with ball in hand, squandered try-scoring opportunities and made a litany of mistakes. It was uncharacteristic, though, so they should be back on form against the log leaders.

Leinster are also under pressure to get a result after their mauling at Ellis Park and the Capetonians can thus expect to face a stronger side that did duty against the Lions. For John Dobson’s charges, it’s all about laying a foundation by playing more direct, which will open up space out wide. By focusing on steak rather than sizzle, the Stormers should prevail.

Prediction: Stormers by 5.

Suggested Bet: Leinster +15.5 at 1.86.

Dragons v Connacht

Saturday, 27 April – 21:00

The 15th-placed Dragons dropped back to their losing ways last weekend, going down by 17 at Benetton, and will struggle to put out the fires Connacht are sure to start. The Irish outfit hit their straps in their runaway 54-16 win over Zebre and will have too much attacking enterprise for their hosts to handle.

Prediction: Connacht by 12.

Suggested Bet: Connacht -8.5 at 1.86.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.