In the only URC matches of the weekend, under fire Ulster travel to Hollywoodbets Kings Park to tackle the Sharks while in-form Glasgow take on the Lions in Johannesburg.
Saturday 25 February
Sharks 1/5 | Draw 22/1 | Ulster 3/1
Handicap
Sharks (-9.5) 87/100 | Ulster (+9.5) 4/5
The Sharks put on a clinical display to beat the Lions in the Joburg rain last week, thanks in large part to the performance of Curwin Bosch at pivot. The Durbanites’ 29-7 bonus-point win came a fortnight after a disheartening 46-19 home defeat to the Stormers but has meant they head into this Saturday’s encounter with the momentum need to continue hunting down a top four place.
Neil Powell’s side are seventh but can go within a point of third-placed Ulster with a BP win at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday.
Both sides will be shorn of their international stars, with the Sharks’ contracted Springboks still ineligible for selection and Ulster’s Ireland contingent on Six Nations duty in Rome this weekend
The men from Belfast have been extremely inconsistent of late and followed up an inspiring 35-5 drubbing of the Stormers at the Kingspan with a six-point loss in Glasgow last week. It’s hard to see them getting anything out of this one in the Durban humidity.
On what is expected to be a wet afternoon, get on the Sharks to claim the win at home. Ulster on the plus.
Lions 1/1 | Glasgow Warriors 4/6
Amid reports of massive unrest in the Lions camp, Cash van Rooyen’s boys have the unenviable task of facing a red-hot Glasgow outfit at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday. The hosts have endured another forgettable campaign, with their latest defeat at the hands of the Sharks dropping them to 14th overall with a 5-8 record.
With trips to Pretoria and Treviso, as well as a clash with Leinster still to come, the Pride can’t afford to drop too many ore points if they are to avoid a second-to-last log finish.
Warriors’ remarkable form continued last week as they saw off Ulster 17-11 at the Scotstoun to make it nine wins and a draw from their last 10 in all competitions. They’re placed fourth, having all but wrapped up Scottish/ Italian Shield honours, and are looking likely to feature in the last four at the rate they’re going.
The heat and altitude in Johannesburg will definitely nullify much of the Glaswegians’ game, but they should still take a narrow win.
