After tumbling down the United Rugby Championship standings last weekend the Bulls are back on home turf for a clash with Connacht at Loftus on Saturday
Bulls v Connacht, Saturday 25th November, Pretoria, KO 17:00 (South African time)
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Paul Mente (South Africa); Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls lost top spot on the log when they lost final tour match 31-23 at Edinburgh in Round 5. They made a solid enough start and led 13-11 at half time but a second half red card for skipper Marcell Coetzee and a spell in the bin for Cameron Hanekom contributed to their downfall.
That defeat saw the Bulls finish the round in seventh spot with 3 wins and 2 defeats for 15 log points. The Bulls only other loss came in their first tour match 26-19 to Ulster in Round 2 where they had to settle for a losing bonus point. They won at Cardiff and away to Zebre and they started their campaign with a 63-21 hiding of the Scarlets in their only home game so far.
The Bulls beat Connacht 28-14 at Loftus last season and they also thrashed a second string Leinster side at this venue in the final round.
In the outright betting the Bulls are 11/1 shots to win the tournament with BoyleSports
Connacht:
Connacht began their tour of SA in Durban last weekend when they edged out the Sharks 13-12. They led 10-5 at half time and with the Sharks missing a number of opportunities the Irish side went on to record their fourth win in 5 matches.
Connacht finished Round 5 in fourth spot, behind Ulster on points difference and 2 points shy of Glasgow Warriors and Leinster who set the pace.
Connacht started their campaign with back to back home wins over the Ospreys and Glasgow Warriors (both by a 34-26 scoreline) and they followed up with another home win in Round 3 when they came out on top in a derby against Ulster 22-20. A first road trip took them to Edinburgh in Round 4 and they suffered a narrow (25-22) defeat.
In SA last season Connacht lost to the Stormers (38-15) and the Bulls (28-14). They went onto to reach the play offs and made it all the way to the semi finals where another clash with the Stormers saw them beaten 43-25.
In the outright betting Connacht are 37/1 shots to win the tournament with BoyleSports
Team News
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Reinhardt Ludwig, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Canan Moodie
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 David Hawkshaw, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 10 Jack Carty (c), 9 Colm Reilly, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Oisin Dowling, 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 1 Denis Buckle
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Conor Oliver
The Betting,
Bulls -15.5 points at 9/10
Connacht +15.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
This handiap has moved from an opening -12.5 Bulls to -18.5 and I think the money is spot on. (edit I was looking at Sharks cap it is only -15.5)
Connacht got a brilliant win over the Sharks last weekend and this tour is already a success for them.
I think the Bulls will be too strong and will run rampant. The -15.5 is tempting but with Connacht well capable of tries I prefer Bulls over 36.5.
Bet: 6 units Bulls over 36.5 points at 17/20 at Pokerbet*
*Pokerbet are generally 1st to market with rugby points lines – click here to open an account
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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