The Bulls host the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship at Loftus on Saturday, the home side are faring best of the South African teams whilst the Sharks are coming off a first win of the season.
Bulls v Sharks, Saturday 2nd December, Pretoria, KO 15:00 (South African time)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Dylen November (South Africa), Phumzile Mbewu (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls returned from overseas and put Connacht away 53-27 at Loftus in Round 6, running in 8 tries to secure a bonus point and climb into third position on the log.
The Bulls now have a record of 4 wins and 2 defeats for 20 log points which puts them 4 shy of Leinster and 5 behind log leaders Glasgow Warriors.
Their defeats came on tour at Edinburgh and Ulster whilst they won at Cardiff and away to Zebre and they started their campaign with a 63-21 hiding of the Scarlets in a home fixture.
The Bulls beat the Sharks 40-27 at Loftus last season whilst the return in Durban saw the Sharks take revenge with a 47-20 victory.
In the outright betting the Bulls are 97/10 shots to win the tournament with BoyleSports
Sharks:
The Sharks recorded their first win of the season at the sixth time of asking when they thrashed the Dragons 69-14 at Kings Park last weekend. Fielding their strongest line up of the season so far they scored 10 tries in total in a one sided contest.
The Sharks only other home game so far came against Connacht in Round 5 when they came up short, missing a number of opportunities in a 13-12 defeat. One other near miss came away to Zebre Parma (12-10) in Round 4, they were comfortably beaten in Ireland by Munster and Leinster and they were very disappointing in going down 19-5 at the Ospreys in Round 3.
The Sharks are third from bottom with 1 win and 5 defeats against their name for 7 log points, 11 shy of a top half position.
In the outright betting the Sharks are 29/1 shots to win the tournament with BoyleSports
Team News
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Janko Swanepoel, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Sebastian de Klerk
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg
The Betting,
Bulls -7.5 points at 9/10
Sharks +7.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
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This handicap has been fairly stable all week and while if pushed I would be leaning Bulls -7.5 it is the total points line that catches my eye.
Conditions should be perfect and although still hot the temperature has eased a bit and humidity levels are low.
The last 2 URC meetings between these sides at Loftus have thrown up 67 and 57 points and that is enough to get me on the over 53.5 on offer.
Stay close to our forum thread for more bets
BET: 5 units over 53.5 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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