Round 4 of the United Rugby Championship brings big clashes across two continents. The Bulls face a tough trip to Galway, the Lions chase their first win at home, the Sharks look to bounce back in Durban, and the Stormers aim to stay unbeaten in Parma. Below are the predictions and best bets for each game.
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Connacht vs Blue Bulls
Travelling to Galway on Friday night, the Bulls face a stiff test against Connacht, who are coming off a loss to Cardiff and will be looking to rebound in front of home fans.
The Bulls have made 11 changes to their starting XV from their previous match and must rely on their heavy forwards, structured attack, and killer instinct in the second half to claw out a win.
Prediction: Blue Bulls to win at 1.89.
Best Bet: Over 48.5 total points at 1.81.
Lions vs Scarlets
Back at Ellis Park on Saturday, the Lions get a reprieve from the road and will want to make it count against the Scarlets. The Lions have had a rough start, three matches on the road, and all ended in defeat.
Scarlets also haven’t turned things around yet, two losses so far and getting thumped 34-0 by the Stormers. At home in Johannesburg, the Lions may have a slight edge, but the Scarlets beat the Lions 32-19 in Johannesburg last season.
Prediction: Lions to win at 1.17.
Best Bet: Lions -10.5 at 1.82.
Sharks vs Ulster
At Kings Park, the Sharks return to home soil and seek to ignite their campaign against Ulster. Their home record is formidable, but Ulster are in form and won’t be intimidated. The Sharks have had a rough start to the URC season: 2 losses + 1 draw from three matches, but have named a strong side, bolstered by Springbok internationals like Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth.
The Sharks will probably aim to assert dominance early, using forward pressure, set pieces, and phases to pin Ulster. Ulster may try to slow the game, force mistakes, and launch backline attacks if space opens.
Prediction: Sharks to win at 1.18.
Best Bet: Ulster +11.5 at 1.85.
Zebre vs Stormers
The Stormers are in good form and are unbeaten so far, hoping to carry over confidence and momentum into Parma to face Zebre. History favours them and they’ll aim to dominate territory, strike early, and keep the pressure constant.
Expect them to win, likely by a substantial margin. Zebre might put up resistance, especially early on, but Stormers’ attacking depth and defensive solidity make them heavy favourites.
Prediction: Stormers to win 1.15.
Best Bet: Stormers -11.5 at 1.86.
