The Lions and the Ospreys clash in Johannesburg on Saturday and after their play off hopes ended last week this will be the final match of the United Rugby Championship season for both sides
Lions v Ospreys, Saturday 17th May, Johannesburg, KO 17:15 (South African time)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Weather Forecast – Johannesburg
Lions:
The Lions come into the final round in 13th position in the standings with a record of 7 wins and 10 defeats. Their tally of 35 log points is now 11 shy of a play off place so they are no longer in contention.
A 32-19 home defeat to the Scarlets in Round 17 last week was the final nail in the Lions season which had started with 4 straight wins.
That was a third URC defeat at Ellis Park having lost earlier to Benetton (42-31) and the Bulls (35-22).
Ospreys:
The Ospreys are 11th in the standings with a record of 7 wins, 1 draw and 9 defeats. Their tally of 38 log points is 2 better than the Lions but 8 short of what is currently required for a play off spot so their URC season also finishes here.
Their play off hopes also ended in Round 17 when they were beaten 29-10 by the Sharks in Durban. Their stand our result away from home is a 32-31 victory over the Warriors in Glasgow in Round 12. In earlier games at home to South Africa opposition this season in Round 2 the Ospreys came out on top 37-24 against the Stormers and in Round 4 they were beaten 29-19 by the Bulls.
Team News
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Izan Esterhuizen, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Kelly Mpeku
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 Will Griffiths, 5 James Fender, 4 James Ratti, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Steffan Thomas
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Kian Hire, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Lewis Lloyd, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Iestyn Hopkins
The Betting,
Updated 17 May 10h36
Lions -5.5 points at 9/10
Ospreys +6.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
The Lions have gone from -2.5 to -4.5 after team news. This is a dead rubber and I fancy the home team to do the business and win well.
I have other plans for the game though depending on points lines and will be back with a bet later tonight or in the moring.
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Posted 17 May 10h39
Points are out and the quote is 60.5.
Conditions should be good and I am firmly in the overs camp.
My preference though is for the Lions (now -6.5) points and I am having a strike at Lions over 33.5.
BET: 6 units Lions over 33.5 points at 17/20 at Betxchange
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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