URC Predictions – Round 15

The Sharks kick off Round 15 with an encounter against Edinburgh on Scottish soil on Friday night, with the rest of the South African sides resuming their campaigns on Saturday.

The Lions play host to Benetton at Ellis Park, the Stormers welcome Connacht to Cape Town and the Bulls battle Munster in Limerick.

Edinburgh v Sharks

When: Friday, 18 April – 20:35 SAST

Edinburgh have emerged as South African slayers, having knocked the Lions and Bulls out of the EPCR Challenge Cup in the last couple of weeks. Now, the eighth-placed Scottish side go Shark fishing, with the aim of nailing down their place in the top half of the log.

The Sharks effectively conceded their Challenge Cup crown by fielding an understrength team against Lyon in their last outing. In a reverse of last season, they are prioritising the URC and understandably so as they’ve worked their way up to fourth place on the table.

After the slipup against a young Leinster team at home in the previous round, the fourth-placed Durbanites will feel a need to make up points and with a rested side set to be bolstered by the return of key Springboks, they have what it takes to edge Edinburgh.

Prediction: Sharks by 2.
Suggested Bet: Sharks at 2.00.

Lions v Benetton

When: Saturday, 19 April – 13:45 SAST

The Lions will see the final block of URC fixtures at home as a fresh start after tour losses to Cardiff (20-17) and the Glasgow Warriors (42-0) saw them drop from eighth to 14th. Six points outside of the playoffs, they cannot afford to lose their homecoming.

Benetton will be a tough nut to crack. They reached the knockouts of the Investec Champions Cup for the first time ever this season and are seventh in the URC. They play a clever tactical game and will look to outsmart the Lions to make it three wins on the trot in the tournament.

The Lions are a different beast at home where altitude aids their high-octane style of play, which should see them take down the visitors from Treviso.

Prediction: Lions by 5.
Suggested Bet: Benetton +7 at 1.90.

Ospreys v Cardiff

When: Saturday, 19 April – 16:00 SAST

The Welsh derby at the Principality Stadium is tricky to call. Cardiff are three spots above the Ospreys in ninth place but they have an identical 6-7-1 record and played to a 13-all draw in January.

It’s when one looks at their recent form that the picture becomes clearer. While both have lost their last match, the Ospreys 20-18 to Lyon and Cardiff 35-20 to Connacht, the Ospreys have won six of their last 10 games in all competitions compared to Cardiff’s two wins.

Add home ground advantage and the Ospreys ought to have the edge.

Prediction: Ospreys by 3.

Stormers v Connacht

When: Saturday, 19 April – 16:00 SAST

Like the Lions, the Stormers have a four-match home run to conclude the regular season and would like to start it on the right note this weekend.

They are fresh as can be, having had a two-week break watching Connacht beat Cardiff 35-20 before going down 43-40 to Racing 92 in the Challenge Cup playoffs.

The Capetonians, who imploded after a cracking start to lose 38-34 to Ulster last time out, are 10th but just one point outside the top eight. With their star playmakers back and home converts, John Dobson‘s rested troops should turn back Connacht.

Prediction: Stormers by 12.
Suggested Bet: Connacht +18 at 1.90.

Munster v Bulls

When: Saturday, 19 April – 18:15 SAST

Start well. That will be at the top of the Bulls’ agenda after a horror first half led to their Challenge Cup title hopes going up in flames in Edinburgh last weekend. The one positive from the 34-28 loss is that they can now fully focus on the URC, where they’re third and pushing for a top-two finish.

Unfortunately for them, Munster seem to be peaking at the right time. The Irish outfit are fifth and showed their mettle by toppling La Rochelle away from home in their Champions Cup Round of 16 clash, before being eliminated by top-ranked Bordeaux-Begles last weekend.

Do the Bulls have a shot? They do, if their set pieces fire. However, you’d have to give Munster the edge in front of their home crowd.

Prediction: Munster by 5.
Suggested Bet: Munster -4 at 1.90.

Dragons v Scarlets

When: Saturday, 19 April – 18:30 SAST

The second Welsh derby is a far more clear-cut case than the first.

The Dragons are enduring a nightmare campaign and still only have one win to show for their efforts. Meanwhile, the Scarlets stormed to a 38-22 victory over the Ospreys in the previous round to stop a three-match losing streak and are just three points outside of the playoff places in 11th.

They have further motivation as a win here, coupled with Cardiff losing away to the Ospreys, would see the Scarlets secure the Welsh Shield. They defeated the Dragons 32-15 at home in January and should win this return fixture relatively comfortably as well.

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

Leinster v Ulster

When: Saturday, 19 April – 20:35 SAST

A juggernaut of note, Leinster showed they’re in a league of their own in the last two weeks by blanking both Harlequins (62-0) and the Glasgow Warriors (52-0) in the Champions Cup playoffs.

Runaway log leaders in the URC, it’s tough to see anyone beating them now that their defence, masterminded by Jacques Nienaber, has caught up to their attack. Ulster have won their last three URC games to move into sixth position, but they won’t trouble Leinster.

Prediction: Leinster by 20.
Suggested Bet: Leinster -19 at 1.90.

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors

When: Saturday, 19 April – 20:35 SAST

A juggernaut of note, Leinster showed they’re in a league of their own in the last two weeks by blanking both Harlequins (62-0) and the Glasgow Warriors (52-0) in the Champions Cup playoffs.

Runaway log leaders in the URC, it’s tough to see anyone beating them now that their defence, masterminded by Jacques Nienaber, has caught up to their attack. Ulster have won their last three URC games to move into sixth position, but they won’t trouble Leinster.

Prediction: Glasgow Warriors by 14.
Suggested Bet: Glasgow Warriors -11 at 1.90.