The Bulls will be looking to get off to a flyer when they host the Scarlets in the opening round of the United Rugby Championship at Loftus on Sunday.
Bulls v Scarlets, Sunday 22nd October, Pretoria, KO 15:00 (South African time)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa) & Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls were runners up in 2021/22 and they finished sixth in the overall standings last season with a record of 10 wins and 8 defeats and a log points tally of 53. In the play offs they bowed out at the first hurdle, losing 33-21 to the Stormers in Cape Town.
Against Welsh opposition last season the Bulls were 43-26 winners at home to the Ospreys and 45-9 victors at home to Cardiff. In Wales they beat the Dragons 29-14 but they went down to the Scarlets 37-28.
After this the Bulls head off on tour where they will visit Ulster, Zebre Parma, Cardiff and then Edinburgh.
In the outright betting the Bulls are 17.5/1 shots to win the tournament with BoyleSports
Scarlets:
The Scarlets finished fourteenth on the log last season with a record of 6 wins, 1 draw and 11 defeats for 34 log points and they were third best of the Welsh sides, none of whom made the play offs.
Against South African opposition last season the Scarlets lost 36-19 to the Stormers in Cape Town and 32-15 to the Lions in Johannesburg. In addition to the 37-28 home win over the Bulls they also beat the Sharks 32-20 in another home game and after this match they will face the Stormers next weekend in Stellenbosch.
In the outright betting the Scarlets are 140/1 shots to win the tournament with BoyleSports.
Team News
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), 5 Ruan Nortje (co-captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Stedman Gans
Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Jonathan Davies (captain), 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Kieran Hardy; 8 Ben Williams, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Shaun Evans, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Isaac Young, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Wyn Jones, 19 Jac Price, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Ioan Nicholas
The Betting,
Bulls -17.5 points at 9/10
Scarlets +18.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
This line opened -15.5 and money has come for the Bulls and there is mainly -18.5 on offer now. I think the Bulls will be too strong for this Scarlets team and while I may get more involved on the points lines closer to kick off I am going to have a go at the -17.5 still on offer. The Bulls should take control upfront and I expect them to dictate the match.
I will post any additional bets in our forum thread
Bet: 5 units Bulls -17.5 at 1/1 at Betxchange (Using the URC Boost , 3k max, can’t use in multiples)
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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