Independent Media rugby writer Mike Greenaway picks this weekend’s rugby winners.
This weekend is the final round of the United Rugby Championship, and there is last-minute jostling for positions in the top eight.
It is the second weekend in a row that the four South African teams host a Welsh side, and once more, we expect the Bulls, Stormers, and Sharks to be good for their opposition, while the Lions are set to struggle once more.
Stormers v Cardiff in Cape Town, 7pm on Friday
Cardiff need to burgle a win here to have a chance of making the playoffs, but I can’t see it happening with the way the Stormers are operating at the moment.
The Stormers are on fire, and timing their URC run perfectly.
Betting angle
There is no point backing the Stormers simply to win because they are hot favourites. A better angle is to back the Stormers to win by 11 points or more.
I reckon that with their playmakers, the Stormers are at least two scores better than Cardiff.
Bulls v Dragons in Pretoria, 3pm
This match is expected to be the most one-sided fixture of the round, with the second-placed Bulls hosting the worst-performing team in the URC.
There will be plenty of emotion at Loftus Versfeld as the Bulls say farewell to Cornal Hendricks. They will want to say goodbye in style.
Betting angle
Accordingly, the only way to make cash on this game is to predict how big the hiding is going to be. The bet that I think offers good value is on the Bulls to win by 39 or more.
Hollywoodbets will give you R90 for every R100 you bet on that one. Plus, your stake back.
Lions v Ospreys in Johannesburg, 5.15pm
Nothing is riding on this one, but pride after both teams lost last week to end hopes of sneaking into the top eight.
Betting angle
I have a feeling the hurting Lions are going to get up for this one and beat an Ospreys side with one foot on the plane.
The Lions have some proud players and they don’t like being the butt of jokes.
I’m backing the Lions simply to win, and Hollywoodbets will give me R70 for every R100 I put on.
Sharks v Scarlets in Durban, 7.30pm
This game should be the most competitive of the weekend involving South African sides. The Scarlets famously beat Leinster, where the Sharks failed.
Still, this Sharks side are slowly but surely growing in confidence as their whack of Springboks settle back in, including Eben Etzebeth.
Betting angle
Bet on the Sharks to win by 16 points or more.
