The Bulls and Glasgow Warriors will contest the final of the United Rugby Championship at Loftus on Saturday and the South African side are firm favourites to lift the trophy
Bulls v Glasgow Warriors, Saturday 22nd June, Pretoria, KO 18:00 (South African time)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland) and Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls were 6.5 point underdogs on the handicap for last week's home semi final with Leinster but they came out on top 25-20. They led 10-7 at half time and scored 3 tries to Leinster's 2 with Sergeal Petersen crossing twice and Goosen scored the other try and landed 2 conversions and 2 penalties.
The Bulls started their home quarter final against Benetton as 18.5 point favourites on the handicap, they led from start finish but couldn't cut loose and the final score was 30-23 with both sides scoring 3 tries a piece.
The Bulls won 13 and lost 5 of their matches in the regular season and that took them to second position with 66 points, 2 behind Munster and 1 clear of Leinster and Glasgow Warriors. The Bulls went down 27-22 to Munster in Round 14, their only home defeat this season.
Last season the Bulls bowed out at the quarter final stage when they lost 33-21 to the Stormers in Cape Town. In 2021/22 the Bulls famously beat Leinster 27-26 in a semi final staged in Dublin before they lost the final away to the Stormers (18-13).
Warriors:
The Warriors were also underdogs for their semi final away to defending champions Munster. They were given 8.5 points start on the bookmakers main handicap line but came away from Limerick with a 17-10 victory. Kyle Steyn scored a try in the first half and another from Sebastian Cancelliere in the second period (both converted by Horne) put Glasgow 11 points in front. Munster hit back but a late Horne penalty after Munster were reduced to 14 men sealed the deal.
The Warriors ended the Stormers hopes of reaching a third successive final with a 27-10 victory in Glasgow in the quarters. They were 3.5 point favourites on the handicap line, led 6-0 at half time and went on to score 3 tries (Cancelliere, Venter, Thompson ) to 2.
The Warriors topped the log heading into the later rounds of the regular season but a couple of defeats on tour in South Africa (at the Bulls (4-34) and the Lions (44-21) saw them eventually finish fourth with a record of 13 wins and 5 defeats. It was tight and they were level with Leinster on points and just 3 behind Munster and 1 shy of the Bulls.
Team News
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simpiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornel Smit
Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (captain), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir
The Betting,
Bulls -8.5 points at 9/10
Glasgow Warriors +9.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
There has been money for both sides with the handicap moving from -8.5 to -9.5 and back a few times this week. I capped this game Bulls -8.5 so I am not seeing obvious value there.
There was plenty of support for both sides from the panel (Glasgow) and live chat (leaning Bulls) on last nights THE HANDICAP and I am not firm on either.
The points line is 53.5 and although this is a final I like the overs. Conditions will be good and although unders arrived in the quarters and the semi’s at Loftus I think this is going to be a different game with Glasgow’s backline more direct and dangerous than Leinsters in my opinion.
My preference is for Glasgow overs at 21.5.
BET: 6 units Glasgow over 21.5 points at 9/10 at Pokerbet*
*You can open a Pokerbet Account by clicking here
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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