The DHL Stormers and Fidelity Securedrive Lions face tricky home fixtures this weekend, while the Vodacom Bulls will be aiming to finish their northern tour in style.
The "Race to Eight" moves into high gear this weekend, as the Stormers, Lions and Bulls look to boost their United Rugby Championship prospects via a victory against foreign opposition.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks have dropped to 11th in the URC standings following their recent loss to the Ospreys, and are unlikely to make the playoff cut in the coming weeks.
That said, JP Pietersen's charges will be determined to make a statement when they visit Edinburgh on Friday night.
The Stormers host Glasgow Warriors in a top of the table clash in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon, while two playoff hopefuls in the Lions and Connacht meet in Johannesburg later in the day.
The round concludes with the eighth-placed Bulls facing the 14th-placed Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday night.
Edinburgh V Sharks
- Date: Friday, 24 April
- Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
- Time: 8:45pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
The Sharks could keep their slim playoff hopes alive via a bonus-point win in Edinburgh. Edinburgh have had a poor season to date, losing seven of their last nine matches. The Scots barely managed to edge Zebre at home last week, and may struggle to keep a desperate Sharks side in check this Friday, which is why they start as 2.50 underdogs and with a +4 handicap (2.00). Bettors may be tempted to explore both options, given the Sharks' inconsistency this season, but it seems more likely that Pietersen's charges will win by 6-10 points (4.50) or 11-15 (6.00).
Stormers V Glasgow Warriors
- Date: Saturday, 25 April
- Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
- Time: 1:45pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
The Stormers suffered an historic loss to Connacht in Cape Town last week, and in the aftermath, coach John Dobson admitted that the sudden death of team manager Chippie Solomon had disrupted preparations and contributed to the squad's fragile mental state. It remains to be seen whether the Stormers can pick themselves up for the coming battle against Glasgow, who have their own point to prove after leaking 54 points against the Lions last week. Nevertheless, Glasgow are clear underdogs at 3.25 to win, and start with a +6 handicap. It's hard to see a Stormers side packed with stars losing two big home games in succession, but it may be worth a bet on the Glasgow handicap.
Lions V Connacht
- Date: Saturday, 25 April
- Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Time: 4pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
Both teams are on a roll, having won their last five URC matches. The Lions will expect to win this fixture, and will target the four-try bonus point with the aim of consolidating their present log position. Connacht travelled to South Africa without several key players, and may struggle to replicate the performance that earned them a monumental win against the Stormers last week (a Connacht win at Ellis Park will pay 5.25). The +14 handicap (1.90), however, is worth exploring.
Scarlets V Bulls
- Date: Saturday, 25 April
- Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
- Time: 8:45pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
The Bulls romped to a 47-7 win over the Dragons last week, and if they claim another bonus-point win against the Scarlets on Saturday, they could strengthen their bid for a home quarterfinal. The Welsh side has lost four of its last five games, and may struggle to live with the Bulls at the set pieces and collisions. After witnessing the Bulls' late flourish in Newport last week, bettors may consider a winning margin anywhere between 10 and 15 points, and perhaps a bigger emphasis on second-half scoring. The Scarlets have never lost to the Bulls in Wales before, but it's hard to see them maintaining that record on Saturday, and they start at 4.50 underdogs.
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