The Bulls host Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship at Loftus on Saturday and both sides are bidding to make it two wins from two.
Bulls v Edinburgh, Saturday 24th September, Pretoria, KO 14:30 (South African time)
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls began their campaign with a 31-15 victory over the Lions in an SA derby in Johannesburg last week. Last season's runners up were favourites on the handicap at around 8.5 points and the Bulls scored 3 tries (Marcell Coetzee, Cornal Hendricks, Jan-Hendrik Wessels ) to the Lions 2 and Chris Smith added 16 points from the boot.
In terms of the outright betting to win the tournament this season the Bulls are 10/1 shots with World Sports Betting who have the Sharks at 17/2, the Stormers at 9/1 and the Lions at 110/1. Leinster top the outright winner betting board at 11/20 with Munster at 15/2.
Edinburgh:
Edinburgh were also in action in the opening round and they scored all of 7 tries in a 44-6 home win over the Dragons.
Last season Edinburgh finished seventh in the overall standings with a record of 10 wins, 1 draw and 7 defeats. Their results against South African opposition comprised of a 20-20 draw at home to the Stormers and a 17-10 home win over the Bulls. Towards the end of the season they beat the Sharks 21-5 in Durban and lost 15-9 to the Lions in Johannesburg. Edinburgh returned to SA for the first round of play offs and they bowed out 28-17 to the Stormers in Cape Town.
Edinburgh can be backed at around 30/1 in the outright betting to win the title.
Team News
Bulls: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Ruan Vermaak, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Stedman Gans
Edinburgh: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 James Lang, 11 Damien Hoyland, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Jamie Ritchie (cc), 5 Grant Gilchrist (cc), 4 Sam Skinner, 3 WP Nel, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Chris Dean
The Betting - Risk Free First Bet Up to R2,000 back if you don't win
Bulls -10.5 points at 9/10
Edinburgh +10.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
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I initially sensed punters were leaning towards Edinburgh on the plus but most punters spoken to over the last 24 hours have fancied the Bulls to beat this handicap.
I am undecided but am leaning Bulls but the bet I prefer is Bulls overs. The line is 49.5 for Total Points and I expect the home team to keep the tempo as high as possible or as high as the ref will allow and 30 points looks very attainable.
Bet: 5 units Bulls over 29.5 points at 8/10 at WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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