After picking up a bonus point win in their opening United Rugby Championship match the Lions start as favourites to make it two from two when they host Edinburgh in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Lions v Edinburgh, Saturday 5th October, Johannesburg, KO 13:45 (South African time)
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Henru van Rooyen (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)
Weather Forecast – Johannesburg
Lions:
The Lions began their URC campaign at home to Ulster in Round 2, they were priced up as 6.5 point favourites and they came out on top 35-22. They scored the first 15 points of the game and scored 5 tries in total through Maxwane, Botha, Marais, Van Wyk and Wolhuter to land a bonus point.
The Lions just missed out on a play off place in the URC last season, it went down to the wire but their record of 9 wins and 9 defeats was just short of what was required for an extended stay in the tournament. These teams met in Edinburgh in Round 2 last season and the Scottish side edged it 17-16.
After this the Lions head off on tour where they will visit the Dragons, Zebre, Leinster and finally Munster.
In the outright betting the Lions are 62/1 shots to win the URC with BoyleSports.
Edinburgh:
This completes Edinburgh's tour of South Africa. They were given around 11.5 points start on the bookmakers main handicap line for the Round 2 clash with the Bulls at Loftus and although they put in a game performance they finished on the losing side, going down 22-16. Ashworth scored Edinburgh's only try.
Edinburgh started their tournament at home to Leinster and they went down 33-31. The try count was shared 5-5 with van der Merwe bagging a brace for Edinburgh and by way of consolation they bagged 2 bonus points.
On their visit to South Africa last season Edinburgh lost to the Stormers in Round 12 (43-21) and the Sharks in Round 13 (23-13).
Having earned 3 bonus points so far Edinburgh are in twelfth position in the early season standings.
In the outright betting to win the URC title Edinburgh are 34/1 shots with BoyleSports
Team News
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Henco van Wyk
Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Ross McCann, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Ben Vellacott (cc), 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (cc), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Patrick Harrison, 17 Boan Venter, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Ali Price, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Mosese Tuipulotu
The Betting,
Updated 05 Oct 09h11
Lions -8.5 points at 9/10
Edinburgh +8.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 4 October 09h04
This handicap has been pretty stable around the -7.5, -8.5 Lions level all week.
Last week I was on over 56.5 in the Lions game against Edinburgh and it delivered at the death but Edinburgh cost me against the Bulls only scoring 16 points when I needed 24.
The points line opened at 51.5 which I highlighted on last nights THE HANDICAP our rugby betting show and at the moment it is 53.5.
I am leaning overs but the 3 previous meetings have never had more than 41 points so I am not rushing in and will post a bet when more bookies have priced up and I have seen the teams.
Update 5 October 09h12
I am kicking myself for not taking the 51.5 on Thursday night and for that matter the 53.5 available at the time of sending yesterdays newsletter.
There is generally 55.5 available now with some 54.5 still on offer.
I am considering an overs play on Edinburgh as have a feeling they have targeted this game but at the moment can only find 8/10 over 22.5 points and will look closer to kick off.
Update 5 October 11h13
More bookies have priced up and there is 10/11 Edinburgh over 22.5 on offer and I am getting involved with my biggest play of the weekend.
BET: 6 units Edinburgh over 22.5 points at 10/11 at Boylesports*
*Read why Boylesports is a must have account for rugby punters & Click Here To Open An Account @Boylesports
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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