URC Predictions – Round 13

The Lions and the Stormers are in Wales, while the Sharks and the Bulls are at home. The men from Johannesburg are up first with a meeting with Cardiff on Friday night, while the rest of the local sides will be in action on Saturday.

The Sharks will welcome Zebre to Kings Park, the Bulls have a blockbuster battle against runaway log leaders Leinster and the Stormers square off against the Scarlets in Llanelli.

Cardiff v Lions

When: Friday, 21 March – 21:35 SAST

The Lions have a golden opportunity to cash in on a struggling Cardiff side and kick off their tour on a perfect note.

While the Welsh outfit are sixth, two spots above the Lions, they haven’t won a single game in 2025. They’re on a three-match losing streak in the URC with their last win coming over the Dragons on Boxing Day.

The Lions are coming off a 25-22 away loss to the Sharks in which they showed their trademark fight but dropped off significantly from the previous week’s 38-14 win over the Durbanites.

The Pride have been consistently inconsistent, as their 6-6 record underlines, which makes them tough to predict. Given they have a date with the defending champion Glasgow Warriors next weekend, this is the game that they’ll target and with Henco van Wyk and Quan Horn set to be back, I’ll side with the Lions to pip it.

Prediction: Lions by 2.

Suggested Bet: Lions at 2.62.

Zebre v Dragons

When: Friday, 28 February – 21:35 SAST

The two teams at the bottom of the log lock horns in Parma.

Zebre are on quite a roll for their standards, having upset Ulster 15-14 and Edinburgh 22-17 away from home in their last two outings to double their win tally to four.

The last-placed Dragons, meanwhile, have still only won a single game this season and their 45-20 loss to Glasgow in the previous round extended their losing streak to 10. Bank on Zebre to add to their woes.

Prediction: Zebre by 12.
Suggested Bet: Zebre -7 at 1.90.

Glasgow Warriors v Munster

When: Friday, 21 March – 21:35 SAST

After a shock 32-31 loss to the Ospreys last time out that ended a remarkable 14-match home winning streak in all competitions, the second-placed Glasgow Warriors are fuming and will throw everything into this one to bounce back.

Fifth-placed Munster were beaten at home as well in the previous round, the Irish side succumbing 34-28 to Edinburgh. They won their last two away games against Ulster (22-19) and the Dragons (38-19) respectively, but an angry Glasgow are a different beast.

Expect the hosts to deliver the goods.

Prediction: Glasgow Warriors by 9.
Suggested Bet: Glasgow Warriors -5 at 1.90.

Sharks v Zebre

When: Saturday, 22 March – 14:45 SAST

The Sharks have the most favourable matchup of the South African teams but they’ll be wary of the visiting Italians, who’ve shown a lot of improvement this season and are on a three-match winning streak. They also defeated the Durbanites in last year’s competition, so the Sharks won’t take them lightly.

In fourth place and fresh off clinching the South African Shield, John Plumtree’s men have won three of their last four games and will be satisfied by nothing but a full house. They should have far too much power in their Springbok-laden pack and class in the backline for Zebre to handle.

Prediction: Sharks by 19.
Suggested Bet: Zebre +22 at 1.90.

Benetton v Edinburgh

When: Saturday, 22 March – 17:00 SAST

Thirteenth-placed Benetton will want to make home-ground advantage count when they host seventh-placed Edinburgh.

The Italians lost their last game away to Connacht, but it’s their home record that one should focus on. They’ve won four in a row in their backyard, including a shock 32-25 victory over vaunted La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup and a 34-19 triumph over Ulster in their last URC game.

They’ve also won the last five meetings with Edinburgh in Treviso, so those trends should continue.

Prediction: Benetton by 2.
Suggested Bet: Edinburgh +3 at 1.90.

Bulls v Leinster

When: Saturday, 22 March – 17:00 SAST

All eyes will be on Loftus Versfeld for the biggest game of the weekend as the third-placed Bulls host undefeated table-toppers Leinster in a repeat of last season’s semi-final.

Jake White’s charges won that previous clash 25-20 and also famously stunned the Irish giants in Dublin in the 2022 semi-finals, so if anyone can beat them, it’s the Bulls, especially given the visitors won’t be at full strength.

Nevertheless, they pose a lot of danger and will fancy their chances against a Bulls team who’ve lost their last two home games, to the Sharks (29-19) and the Stormers (19-16) respectfully.

The Pretoria outfit are super passionate and live for big games like this. They lift their standard not to mention their physicality and intensity for these types of game and that should see them hand Leinster their first loss.

Prediction: Bulls by 9.
Suggested Bet: Markets TBA.

Scarlets v Stormers

When: Saturday, 22 March – 17:00 SAST

Coming off a gutsy three-point away win over the Bulls, the Stormers have made their way to Wales for a tricky encounter against a Scarlets side level with them on log points but two spots above them in 10th place.

Like the Lions, the Stormers have been erratic, alternating between hapless and spirited. The Scarlets, meanwhile, are coming off a winless Irish tour that saw them go down to Munster (29-8) and Ulster (30-28).

After tripping up twice early in the season, the Welsh side have recovered strongly and have won five on the trot at home in all competitions, including pipping the Bulls 23-22 back in October.

The Stormers don’t have the best touring record, but they’ve won in Llanelli before and the big double boost of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse have me backing them.

Prediction: Stormers by 3.
Suggested Bet: Stormers outright (check markets).

Dragons v Ulster

When: Saturday, 22 March – 19:15 SAST

For as poor as 14th-placed Ulster have been, they scored a morale-boosting 30-28 win over the Scarlets last time out whereas the Dragons are in dire straits. Dead last with just one win, they appear hopeless and will eat another L here.

Prediction: Ulster by 8.
Suggested Bet: Ulster -6 at 1.90.

Ospreys v Connacht

When: Saturday, 22 March – 19:15 SAST

After the Ospreys pulled off a one-point away win over the Glasgow Warriors in the previous round, one would have to back them at home in this one despite Connacht being two places above them in ninth position. It should be close, though.

Prediction: Ospreys by 3.
Suggested Bet: Connacht +4 at 1.90.