The final round of the United Rugby Championship regular season matches take place this weekend and we take a look at the 4 matches involving South African teams.

 

 

 

Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting where Leinster remain firm favourites at 40/85 ahead of fellow Irish team, Munster at 6/1, Ulster are 17/2 and you can get 10/1 Stormers and 16/1 and better the balance.

Click here for Outright Betting

FRIDAY

ULSTER v SHARKS                                                                

Ulster are currently 5^th on the log and can still finish as high as 2^nd on the table. They face a Sharks side sitting 2 positions and 1 point above them in 3^rd.

Ulster were last in action away in Edinburgh back at the end of April when they won 16-10 and the Sharks last action was a 41-21 home win over Connacht also the last weekend of April.

 

BETTING – Click here to bet

Ulster 7/20

Draw 25/1

Sharks 11/4

Handicap: Ulster -7.5

Suggested Bet: Handicap, Ulster (-7.5) at 19/20

The Sharks did very well on home soil, but they are going to find Ulster on the road a tough nut to crack. At the end of the day I think the Irish team will be be too strong in front of their home fans and draw clear to win this game by 8 points or more.

 

OSPREYS v BULLS

Ospreys are 9^th on the table, but cannot reach the play-offs although they do have incentive in the Welsh Conference and European Cup qualification. They face a Bulls side currently sitting 6^th with an outside chance of climbing to the Top 4.

Ospreys were last in action on the 8^th May beating the Dragons 50-31 at home, a game where they had to come from behind and the Bulls were last seen in a 29-17 home win over Glasgow Warriors at the end of April.

 

BETTING – Click here to bet

Ospreys 8/10

Draw 22/1

Bulls 5/4

Handicap: Ospreys -3.5

Suggested Bet: Bulls win at 5/4

The Bulls have let me down on occasions this season, but I think they are going to be strong enough to beat an Ospreys side on the road and are quite happy to be taking anything above even money about a Bulls victory.

 

SATURDAY

DRAGONS v LIONS

Both of these sides are out of play-off contention with the Dragons currently 15^th on 19 points, 4 positions and 18 points behind the Lions who sit in 11^th.

The Dragons have been active in recent weeks and last week lost 18-19 to Cardiff at home while the week before they went down 50-31 to the Ospreys on the road.

The Lions haven't been in action for a while although many of their URC players got a run out last weekend away at the Bulls in the Currie Cup. Their last URC action was a 37-29 win over Benetton at home and it was at home where they enjoyed most of their success this season.

 

BETTING – Click here to bet

Dragons 33/20

Draw 22/1

Lions 6/10

Handicap: Dragons +3.5

Suggested Bet: Handicap, Lions (-3.5) at 9/10

This Lions side came on nicely towards the end of the season and I think they are going to pack too many guns for a Dragons side that hasn’t impressed me this season.

 

SCARLETS v STORMERS

The Scarlets are down in 10^th on the table and out of play-off contention, although like the Ospreys they have the incentive of Europe next season to motivate them. They play against the Stormers who currently sit 4^th, level on points with 2^nd place Munster and 3^rd place the Sharks so 2^nd place finish is still realistic for them.

The Scarlets were last in action at the end of April when they went down 54-36 to the Ospreys on the road and the Stormers last match was a 20-13 win at home against what was essentially a second string Leinster outfit.

 

BETTING – Click here to bet

Scarlets 31/20

Draw 22/1

Stormers 8/13

Handicap: Scarlets +3.5

Suggested Bet: Handicap, Stormers (-3.5) at 19/20

I expect the Stormers to take control of the pack at some point, in particular the scrums and I think they can lay the foundation for victory here and I am betting on it being by 4 points or more.

 

Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change