South Africa’s URC teams get their campaigns underway this weekend following the conclusion of the Currie Cup, with the Gauteng franchises at home and the coastal outfits on tour overseas.
The opening weekend of the new URC season served up some fine clashes, with the biggest winning margin of round 1 coming in Cardiff’s 22-17 win over Zebre. The big surprise in terms of results saw Dragons open their account with a 23-21 victory over the Ospreys.
The South African teams join the fray this wee with the Lions and Bulls at home against Ulster and Edinburgh respectively while the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Stormers heading up north to face Connacht and the Ospreys.
Friday 27 September
Warriors 2/13 | Draw 40/1 | Benetton 5/1
Warriors will be gutted at having let their Belfast matchup with Ulster slip in the 84-minute last week and will target a first win against Benetton on Friday. Playing their first game in front of their home support since they won last season’s title, Franco Smith’s men will be extra motivated to produce a performance more befitting of their quality.
Benetton made 72 tackles in last week’s draw with Scarlets at the Stadio Comunale, at a success rate of just 79% – a pretty appalling return for any side at this level, let alone one that finished seventh last season. They’ll be cut to ribbons at the home of the champions this week if they put out a similar showing and better improve fast.
Verdict: Glasgow (-13.5) 9/10
Warriors to get up and running at the Scotstoun on Friday.
Leinster 1/80 | Draw 66/1 | Dragons 20/1
A Leinster side missing several key names was made to work exceptionally hard at the DAM Health for their eventual 33-31 win over Edinburgh, a sign perhaps of how competitive things will be this season.
With pressure on Leo Cullen arguably greater than ever to bag some silverware, there will be no complacency at home against weaker clubs like Dragons.
The Newport club did superbly well to down Ospreys at Rodney Parade in round one for a rare victory, with Dai Flanagan’s men out to improve on the three wins they notched up in the entirety last season. Unfortunately for them, a trip to the Aviva is hardly the follow-up game they needed.
Verdict: Leinster (-27.5) 87/100
The hosts to rack up a big score in the Irish capital.
Saturday 28 September
Lions 42/100 | Draw 22/1 | Ulster 9/4
The Lions will have no time to recover from their heart-breaking Currie Cup final defeat to the Hollywoodbets Sharks last week, with a dangerous Ulster lineup arriving in Jozi on Saturday. With the ever-ambitious Cash van Rooyen assuming full responsibility of the side once more though, we should see a Lions outfit starting like a house on fire.
Ulster showed real grit in grinding out a final play win over Glasgow in round one to start off strongly this season. Playing on the highveld is a different challenge altogether though and, facing a Lions outfit looking to put the demons of last week behind them as fast as possible, they’ll be met with fierce resistance at Emirates Airline Park.
Verdict: Ulster (+6.5) 9/10
Ulster to fall to a narrow defeat in round two.
Bulls 31/100 | Draw 28/1 | Edinburgh 3/1
The Bulls start all over again following their second Grand Final defeat in three seasons. Knowing the mentality of Jake White and his players, they’ll be coming out all guns blazing to win their first two home games ahead of a run of five consecutive away games in all competitions. It’s difficult to envisage them starting slowly at Loftus here.
Edinburgh were so good in coming within two points of denying Leinster a week ago, and Sean Everitt’s charges should be challenging for a spot in the top eight based on that performance. The former Bulls assistant will have plenty of inside intel on what to expect at Loftus, but even that shouldn’t be enough to help his side topple the Herd at altitude.
Verdict: Bulls (-9.5) 9/10
The Bulls will be after a fast start at Loftus and should have too much firepower for the Scots.
Zebre 5/1 | Draw 40/1 | Munster 3/1
Zebre were excellent in an eventual bonus-point defeat at Cardiff, and last season’s wooden spoonists will be hoping to improve on that showing by bagging some elusive wins against the minnow teams going forward. The might of Munster should be too much for them though.
Last season’s table-toppers played out a thriller with Connacht at Thomond Park, getting over the line in a 35-33 result in the end. That challenging first hit out should serve them well this season and will ensure they are too dialled in to slip on this potential Zebre banana peel.
Verdict: Munster (-14.5) 9/10
Munster to ease to a comfortable victory at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
Scarlets 77/100 | Draw 22/1 | Cardiff 5/4
Scarlets made 187 tackles at a success rate of 89% in their draw at Benetton in a fantastic effort which will provide them with big confidence ahead of their derby clash with the men from the Welsh capital. With each of the Welsh clubs in a battle to remain relevant in the fight for a top-eight place, these games are all-important.
Cardiff got the job done against Zebre in the first round but would ideally have wanted a bigger winning margin than the five they got in that 22-17 result. They’ll also feel some added motivation to get over the line against a side that beat them twice last season.
Verdict: Scarlets 77/100
This one is a bit of a coin toss but I’m backing Scarlets to secure a narrow win in the derby.
Connacht 42/100 | Draw 22/1 | Hollywoodbets Sharks 9/4
Connacht showed in their slender defeat at Munster just how tough they will be to beat again this season, and with the Galway support behind them this weekend, they should give the Sharks a proper test first up.
While there aren’t any wet weather conditions predicted, it will still take a clever and accurate tactical performance to topple them at home.
There will be a buzz around the Durbanites this week after recently claiming the Currie Cup for the first time since 2018.
This trip to western Ireland though will provide a truer indication of just how far along John Plumtree is with his squad, with a good performance likely to galvanise the side early on their tour.
Verdict: Sharks 9/4
Get on the visitors to ride their trophy-winning momentum to a narrow victory.
Ospreys 5/4 | Draw 22/1 | Stormers 77/100
Ospreys were beaten 21-23 by Dragons at Rodney Parade and will need to rebound fast if they are to hold off the Capetonians here. If they are to again challenge for a quarter-final berth then too many consecutive defeats are a big no-no.
Even without some senior statesmen, the Stormers are certainly capable of getting their tour off on a winning note in Swansea. With dry conditions expected, John Dobson’s men will be aiming to avenge their six-point Cape Town defeat to Ospreys last season and should just about get the job done.
Verdict: Stormers 77/100
The tourists get a valuable win first up.
