Anticipated Outcomes for Round 17
It's crunch time in the United Rugby Championship! With Log leaders Leinster, Glasgow Warriors, the Bulls, and the Sharks making it to the quarters, the rest of the teams are battling it out for the remaining spots. The Sharks, despite a couple of narrow tour wins over Edinburgh and Ulster, are still not firing on all cylinders. They'll kick off Round 17 against the Ospreys at Kings Park, aiming to secure more points before the playoffs.
The 11th-placed Ospreys, who trounced the Dragons 57-24 last time out, are three points behind eighth-placed Benetton. They'll offer some resistance, but the Sharks, with key players like Eben Etzebeth, Lukhanyo Am, and Aphelele Fassi back from tour, should come out victorious.
On Saturday, the Bulls host Cardiff at Loftus Versfeld, with both teams looking for crucial points. The Bulls have closed the gap on Glasgow to just a single point, thanks to wins over Munster and Glasgow abroad. Cardiff are clinging onto fifth place but could drop out of the top eight with a defeat. Expect the Bulls to keep their 100% record intact.
Stormers square off against the Dragons in Cape Town, and with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu firing at flyhalf, the Stormers are looking to make it three wins in a row. The basement dwellers, Dragons, should be in for another tough day.
The Lions take on the Scarlets at Ellis Park on Sunday afternoon, with both teams seeking a boost after finishing on the losing side in their last matches. With little pressure, the Lions should outgun their visitors and notch up a full house of wins for the South African sides.
Prediction:- Sharks by 8- Bulls by 15- Stormers by 28- Lions by 7
Bets:- Sharks -17 at 1.90- Dragons +32 at 1.90 (Stormers)- Cardiff +18 at 1.90 (Bulls)
- The Sharks, with their key players back from tour, take on Ospreys in Round 17, aiming to secure more points before the playoffs.
- The Stormers, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu performing well at flyhalf, face the struggling Dragons in Cape Town, aiming for their third consecutive win.
- The Lions, needing a boost after their recent loss, face the Scarlets in Ellis Park, looking to inscribe a full house of victories for the South African sides.
- In the United Rugby Championship, Connacht, currently out of playoff spots, showed fight against the feverish EPCR sports regulations this week, seeking fairness for all teams in the championship.
