Leinster host the Bulls in Dublin on Friday, it's the pick of United Rugby Championship Round 13 matches and top spot in the standings is up for grabs.

 

 

 

Leinster v Bulls, Friday 29th March, Dublin, KO 21:35 (South African time)

 

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ireland) and Andy Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

 

Weather Forecast - Dublin

 

 

Leinster:

 

Leinster have a record of 10 wins and 2 defeats and with 49 points they top the log, 4 points clear of the Bulls.

 

In Round 12 they came away from Parma with a 31-7 victory over Zebre and their 2 defeats this season came in Glasgow in the opening round and in Round 9 they were edged out 22-21 by Ulster in a home fixture.

 

Leinster beat the Sharks 34-13 at this venue back in Round 2 and next month they will be in SA to take on the Lions and the Stormers.

 

Last season Leinster were thrashed 62-7 by the Bulls at Loftus but that was the final round of the regular season and with top spot sewn up up they fielded and second string side.

 

In the outright betting to win the title BoyleSports make Leinster 0.56/1 favourites.

 

Bulls:

 

The Bulls finished the previous round in second spot with a record of 9 wins and 3 defeats and their tally of 45 log points is 4 shy of leaders Leinster, 1 better than third placed Glasgow and 6 more than fourth placed Munster with the Stormers 10 points back in fifth.

 

The Bulls beat the Dragons 31-10 in Newport last time out but their first tour at the start of the tournament delivered 1 win and 3 defeats. The Bulls lost 26-19 at Ulster back in Round 2 and their only other match against Irish opposition this season saw them thrash Connacht 53-27 at Loftus in Round 6.

 

In their first URC season the Bulls sprang a surprise by beating Leinster at this venue (27-26) in the semi finals.

 

In the outright betting the Bulls are now 69/10 second favourites to win the tournament with BoyleSports

 

Team News

 

Leinster: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Rob Russell, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (c), 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Cian Healy

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Liam Turner

 

Bulls: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (c), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (cc), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster

 

 

The Betting,

 

Leinster -9.5 points at 9/10

Bulls +11.5 points at 9/10

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

Betting Angle

 

Posted 16h22 28 March

 

There has been some money for the Bulls with the early +14.5 now +11.5 or 10.5 depending on where you shop. 

 

I handicapped this Leinster -12.5 so don't see any obvious value in this or the points line which is 49.5. 

 

Update: 16h25 29 March

The points line is set at 49.5 and with the possibility or rain about I am leaning to under 49.5.

Having looked carefully at the teams I have decided that the handicap is the play and will take the best minus Leinster (now -9.5) I can get. I think they can put the Bulls under early pressure and the visitors will struggle to get back into it.

 

BET: 4 units Leinster -9.5 at 0.89/1 at Boylesports

 

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.

 

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