The Sharks host Ulster in the United Rugby Championship in Durban on Saturday and although all of 24 points separates the sides in the standings the betting suggests it could get close.
Sharks v Ulster, Saturday 23rd March, Durban, KO 15:00 (South African time)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Colin Brett (Scotland)
Weather Forecast – Durban
Sharks:
After 11 rounds of matches the Sharks remain at the foot of the URC standings with a record of 1 win and 10 defeats for just the 10 log points and in the outright betting odds of 550/1 with BoyleSports for the Sharks to win the tournament tells its own story about their season so far.
In Round 11 they took on the Lions in Johannesburg and crashed to a 40-10 defeat. Prior to that a double header with the Stormers was much closer with the Sharks losing a 25-21 at home and 16-15 in Cape Town.
The Sharks only win so far came at home to the Dragons, 69-14 back in Round 6. Earlier matches against Irish opposition came on tour at the start of the tournament where the Sharks lost 34-21 at Munster and 34-13 at Leinster. In Round 5 the Sharks were edged out 13-12 by Connacht in Durban.
Ulster:
Ulster come into Round 12 in fifth spot in the standings with a record of 7 wins and 4 defeats and they have 34 log points, the same total as fourth placed Edinburgh and sixth placed Munster.
Last time out Ulster put the Dragons away 49-26 which snapped a trend of close matches with the pick of their results being at 22-21 victory at Leinster. In earlier games against South African opposition this season Ulster beat the Bulls 26-19 and the Lions 24-17 in Belfast.
In South Africa last season Ulster beat the Sharks 31-24 in Durban and the Lions 39-27 in Johannesburg and they fell at the first hurdle of the play offs.
In the outright betting Ulster are priced at 13/1 to win the URC title with BoyleSports
Team News
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuka, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 George Cronje, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Francois Venter.
Ulster: 15 Will Addison, 14 Ethan McIlroy, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Mike Lowry, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 David McCann, 6 Harry Sheridan, 5 Iain Henderson (c), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jude Postlethwaite, 23 Sean Reffell
The Betting,
Sharks +2.5 points at 9/10
Ulster -1.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
I am up against The Handicap panel on this one (listen to The Mossman and Oracles thoughts here) but I am sticking to my guns and going Sharks.
They have named a strong team and although they have nothing to play for other than pride surely they have some pride?
They are generally 12/10 so the 14/10 at Betx gets the nod.
I am also considering a play on over 45.5 points or Sharks overs and will post any additional bets here
BET: 3 units Sharks win at 14/10 at Betxchange
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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