The United Rugby Championship outright favourites Leinster take on the Scarlets in the quarter finals at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Saturday and the bookmakers pre-match main handicap line is a big number.
THE HANDICAP LIVE AT 21H00
Join us for our live rugby betting show Thursdays at 21h00
We are still under a You Tube ban and you can watch on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/192DAn5qse/
or
Leinster v Scarlets, Saturday 31st May, Dublin, KO 16:00 (South African time)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Weather Forecast – Dublin
Leinster:
Leinster topped the URC log at the end of the regular season with a record of 16 wins and 2 defeats and their tally of 76 log points was 8 more than the second placed Bulls.
They won their first 12 matches to pretty much have top spot sewn up before defeats away to the Bulls (21-20) in Round 13 and away to Saturday's opponents the Scarlets (35-22) in Round 16.
The loss to the Scarlets came a week before their Champions Cup semi final against Northampton Saints where Leinster were turned over 37-34 at the Aviva Stadium. That leaves Leinster looking to the URC for some compensation but last season they fell at the semi final stage of this tournament, losing away to the Bulls, in 2022/23 they also lost in the semi's to Munster and in 2021/22 they lost another semi final at home to the Bulls.
In the outright betting to win the URC title this season Leinster are 4/10 favourites with WSB.
Scarlets:
The Scarlets went into the final round of the regular season potentially needing a positive result away to the Sharks to seal a play off place. As it turned out results earlier in the final round were favourable and although they went down 12-3 in Durban they had done enough to earn an extended stay in the tournament.
The Scarlets finished 8th with a record of 9 wins, 1 draw and 8 defeats for 48 log points, 1 point clear of Cardiff who missed out.
In the outright betting to win the URC title the Scarlets are 200/1 rank outsiders with WSB.
Team News
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Scott Penny, 22 Luke McGrath, 23 Ciarán Frawley
Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Dan Davis, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Macs Page
The Betting,
Updated 29 May 18h30
Leinster -23.5 points at 9/10
Scarlets +23.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 29 May 18h41
I have been watching this handicap all week and I am surprised it has been stable at -23.5 Leinster.
I can wait no more and am going to get my money down.
Leinster are a team fighting demons in knock out rugby but quarter-finals have never been their problem.
In 2022 they beat Glasgow 76-14
In 2023 they beat the Sharks 35-5
In 2024 they beat Ulster 43-20
I was on the Sarlets at 3.75/1 to beat Leinster 2 rounds back, but this will be a totally different team and don't think Scarlets have the soldiers to trouble them.
No waiting for team news for me, I am taking the minus which I expect to move out into the mid 20's.
Click here to get my free betting newsletter on Friday 30 May
BET: 6 units Leinster -23.5 at 10/11 at WSB
Posted 30 May 08h02
It took a while but WSB have just gone -25.5 - probably helped that the newsletter went out 45 minutes ago - get it in your inbox next week
I will take a look at the points lines and share thoughts on Friday night.
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Subscribe to our free weekly betting mailer which will include our best and value bets below.
