The United Rugby Championship returns this weekend with some mouth-watering clashes in store.
Saturday 21 October
Zebre 11/2 | Draw 33/1 | Ulster 1/8
Ulster should bag a victory first up against a Zebre side that failed to win a game last season. Zebre will be eager to improve this term and should be better but Ulster are a quality outfit that will get the job done.
Zebre (+14.5) 17/20.
Connacht 2/11 | Draw 33/1 | Ospreys 21/5
Galway will be dry on Saturday but that may still not be enough for Ospreys to claim a win at the Greyhound Stadium. The Welsh outfit should be much improved this term but Connacht will get their campaign off to a winning start.
Ospreys (+12.5) 17/20.
Lions 7/4 | Draw 22/1 | Stormers 8/15
The Lions will be out to avoid another SA Shield wooden spoon finish this season, and a win over John Dobson’s men will give them a big confidence boost in this department. While they’ll run them close at altitude first up, the Capetonians have demonstrated a habit for winning tough games and should bag a narrow win.
Stormers (-4.5) 4/6
Dragons 7/4 | Draw 20/1 | Edinburgh 8/15
Dragons finished 15th overall last season and will look to make some big improvements in 2023-24. They face a good Edinburgh outfit at Rodney Parade here though and could succumb to an opening defeat.
Edinburgh (-5.5) 20/21
Munster 21/100 | Draw 33/1 | Hollywoodbets Sharks 4/1
The defending champions tackle the Sharks at Thomond Park here and will be eager to make a statement first up, as well as providing the Irish rugby public with some much-needed good news. It will be interesting to see what John Plumtree can deliver in his first season at the Shark Tank. They should be more competitive this time round but should fall narrowly short in Limerick.
Hollywoodbets Sharks (+12.5) 5/6.
Cardiff 11/20 | Draw 22/1 | Benetton 13/8
Benetton could well spring a surprise on Cardiff in the Welsh capital here. Theirs is a team that seems to improve year on year, finishing 11th after some brilliant displays. Cardiff will have their home support but the Italians will be up for this one.
Benneton at 13/8.
Sunday 22 October
Bulls 1/14 | Draw 40/1 | Scarlets 17/2
The Bulls should claim a comfortable win against Scarlets at altitude. Jake White will be under enormous pressure at Loftus this season, but their squad is far too good to slip up to Scarlets here.
Bulls (-18.5) 10/11.
Glasgow Warriors 31/20 | Draw 20/1 | Leinster 3/5
Leinster are always hard to look past, but their crazy depth should guide them to victory at the Scotstoun here. The Glaswegians will definitely be a threat but the Irish outfit have a point to prove this season and will start fast here.
Warriors (4.5) 87/100.
