One South African side is in line for a shot at this season's United Rugby Championship title and the outcome of Saturday's semi final at Loftus will determine whether that will be the Bulls or the Sharks
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Bulls v Sharks, Saturday 7th June, Pretoria, KO 18:15 (South African time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Adam Jones (Wales)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls are bidding to go one better than last season when they lost a home final to Glasgow Warriors and they kept themselves in the hunt with a 42-33 victory over Edinburgh at Loftus on Saturday. The handicap line saw the Bulls start as 17.5 point favourites and after trailing 14-3 early doors they worked their way back into the match and pulled away in the second half, eventually scoring 6 tries to Edinburgh's 5.
In the regular season the Bulls finished second on the log with an overall record of 14 wins and 4 defeats, 8 points behind Leinster and 6 points better off than the third place Sharks. They won each of their last 6 in the URC but their SA derby form was far from convincing. In Round 8 they lost 20-17 to the Sharks in Durban and in the return at Loftus in Round 11 the Sharks also came out on top 29-19. The Stormers also won at Loftus in Round 12 and the Bulls were 3 from 3 in local derby matches.
In the outright betting to win the URC title the Bulls are 4/1 second favourites with WSB.
Sharks:
The Sharks hosted Munster in the last of last Saturday's quarter finals and it went all the way to a place kicking competition. They were 6.5 point favourites on the main handicap line but it was Munster who led 7-0 at the half time break and at one stage in the second half the visitors were 21-10 in front. The Sharks hit back and led 24-21 but a Munster penalty levelled things up at 24-24, that was how regulation time finished and extra time failed to deliver any further points and it came down to place kicking. The Sharks kicking was of the 100% variety, 6 from 6 and 1 miss from Munster proved to be the difference between the teams.
The Sharks finished third in the regular season with a record of 13 wins and 5 defeats for 62 log points, 6 shy of the second placed Bulls. They also topped the SA shield with 4 derby wins (including both clashes with the Bulls) and 2 losses.
The Sharks failed to make the play offs last season whilst in 2022/23 they lost away to Leinster in the quarters and they fell at the same stage away to the Bulls in 2021/22.
In the outright betting the Sharks are 9/1 to win the URC title with WSB.
Team News
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canon Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (captain), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne’ Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Jurenzo Julius, 23 Yaw Penxe
The Betting,
Updated 05 June 10h03
Bulls -7.5 points at 9/10
Sharks +7.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 04 June 10h26
The line opened -5.5 Bulls and support for the home team has seen them move to -7.5.
We don't have points lines yet but conditions look good with temps in the mid teens and humidity in the 40's. With a 18h15 kickoff dew could be a factor.
If this were an afternoon kickoff I would be lining up an overs play but lets wait and see what the lines are.
Posted 05 June 10h03
There has been no change to the betting but with points lines in mind lets have a look at the weather - something so important to a rugby punter.
According to the TimeandDate hourly forecast it will be around 16 degrees at kick off dropping to around 14 by the end of the game. There should be clear skies and humidity ranging from 45-55%.
As mentioned above dew could be a factor given the cool temps and kickoff time.
Make sure you heck forecasts or get 1st hand info before betting purely on weather.
Posted 06 June 13h13
The teams are out and with Eben and Jenkins unavailable for the Sharks I think the minus handicap will come under presure.
I will be back with thoughts on the points lines but I cannot look past a comfortable Bulls win.
BET: 5 unit Bulls -7.5 at 9/10 at Hollywoodbets
Posted 06 June 22h01
The Bulls have generally firmed to -8.5 although there is some -7.5 still around.
The points line opened 49.5 and has shifted to 50.5 with most bookies.
I am mulling un another bet.
Posted 07 June 11h25
I like Bulls points and if pushed would take over 30.5 at 19/20 - I am just going to shout the -7.5 home though
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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