URC Round 3 – Weekly Betting Preview & Team News

The teams for this weekend’s Round 3 fixtures of the BKT United Rugby Championship have been named, with full match officials, broadcast details, and betting market reactions below.

Team News Headlines

• #MUNvEDI: Ten changes for Munster; Dylan Richardson debuts for Edinburgh.
• #SCAvSTO: Marnus van der Merwe returns for Scarlets; Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu start for Stormers.
• #BENvLIO: John Bryant named for Benetton debut; JC Pretorius returns for Lions.
• #OSPvZEB: Harri Deaves hits 50 for Ospreys; Paolo Buonfiglio captains Zebre.
• #GLAvDRA: Johnny Matthews could reach 100 for Glasgow; Seb Davies & Jac Lloyd debut for Dragons.
• #LEIvSHA: Josh van der Flier captains Leinster; Sharks welcome back several Springboks.
• #ULSvBUL: Juarno Augustus makes first Ulster start; Handré Pollard among eight Springboks for Bulls.
• #CARvCON: George Nott & Osian Darwin-Lewis in line for Cardiff debuts; Shamus Hurley-Langton returns for Connacht.

Friday Betting Lines (Post Team Announcements)

• Glasgow -26 v Dragons (+26)
• Leinster -24 v Sharks (+24)
• Cardiff -3 v Connacht (+3)
• Ulster +6 v Bulls (-6)
• Munster -6 v Edinburgh (+6)
• Scarlets +6 v Stormers (-6)
• Benetton -9 v Lions (+9)
• Ospreys -15 v Zebre (+15)

Key Betting Movements

• Connacht backed (+4 ➜ +3) – market confident in the visitors’ structure; Cardiff drift slightly. Strength: 3/5
• Bulls backed (-4 ➜ -6) – money continues for Pretoria side with Pollard’s inclusion. Strength: 4/5
• Leinster drift (-27 ➜ -24) – punters taking the Sharks with the big start; some books offering +26. Strength: 3/5
• Stormers backed (-4 ➜ -6) – Springboks return and support follows. Strength: 3/5
• Munster drift (-10 ➜ -6) – Edinburgh still +8 in places and heavily backed; punters fancy the upset. Strength: 5/5

Market Trends

• Edinburgh and Sharks are the most popular underdogs with punters this week.
• Cardiff–Connacht remains the most finely balanced line of the weekend.
• Glasgow (-26) continues to hold the biggest spread.
• Two Irish provinces (Leinster & Munster) remain firm favourites, while Connacht and Ulster start as underdogs.

Full Fixture List, Officials & Team Lineups

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

Munster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby – Virgin Media Park, Cork (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 110th league game) | Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson, Mikey Milne, Diarmuid Barron (C), Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: L. Barron, J. Wycherley, J. Ryan, E. Edogbo, B. Gleeson, E. Coughlan, T. Butler, D. Kelly.

Edinburgh: Goosen, Graham, O’Conor, Lang, Van der Merwe, Healy, Vellacott, Schoeman, Ashman, Rae, Sykes, Skinner, McConnell, Richardson, Bradbury (C).
Replacements: Harrison, Venter, Hill, Young, Douglas, Muncaster, Shiel, Paterson.

Sean Everitt: “It’s a completely different challenge this week – a tough test at a difficult venue in Cork. There’s been massive growth already within this group and the energy has been excellent.”

Scarlets v DHL Stormers – Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) | Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Scarlets: Murray, Rogers, Roberts, Williams (C), Mee, Hawkins, Davies, Hepburn, Van der Merwe, Thomas, T. Davies, Douglas, Taylor, D. Davis, Plumtree.
Replacements: Myhill, O’Connor, Holz, Cummins, B. Williams, Blacker, Costelow, Page.

Stormers: Willemse, Senatla, Simelane, Nel (C), Zas, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ungerer, Vermaak, Kotze, Sandi, Schickerling, Van Heerden, De Villiers, Dixon, Roos.
Replacements: Venter, Matongo, Porthen, Evans, Theunissen, Fourie, Khan, Matthee.

Dwayne Peel: “Stormers have real strength up front and in transition play. We must be brave with and without the ball.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

Benetton v Lions – Stadio Monigo, Treviso (KO 15.00 IRE/UK)

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) | Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys v Zebre Parma – Bridgend (KO 15.00 IRE/UK)

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Glasgow Warriors v Dragons RFC – Scotstoun (KO 17.30 IRE/UK)

Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Leinster Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks – Aviva Stadium (KO 17.30 IRE/UK)

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ulster Rugby v Vodacom Bulls – Affidea Stadium, Belfast (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Cardiff Rugby v Connacht Rugby – Cardiff Arms Park (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) | Live on: S4C, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Stuart Lancaster: “My experience playing against Cardiff, home or away, it’s never easy. They’re well organised and play a great brand of rugby, so it should make for a fantastic game.”

Betting Insights & Predictions

• Connacht (+3) – live underdog; capable of another tight finish in Cardiff.
• Bulls (-6) – power advantage could tell late in Belfast.
• Edinburgh (+6 to +8) – most backed team of the week; upset potential high.
• Sharks (+26) – value line with altitude and depth concerns for Leinster.

All odds accurate as of Friday evening. Markets subject to fluctuation.

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This year’s Lions have proven to be a very strong side thus far with their most recent match against the Lions highlighting their quality.

However, wholesale changes have been made to the side that beat the Sigma Lions 56-14 on Saturday. You can watch a live stream of the match on Sky Sports APP

Ulster and Ireland lock Iain Henderson will captain the side, becoming the latest Irishman to take up the mantle.

Mako Vunipola will get his first start of the tour and will have a chance to prove to everyone why he should be considered for the South Africa tests.

Adam Beard and Josh Navidi have been drafted in after their late call-ups following the injuries Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric sustained against Japan.

The explosive Sam Simmonds will be a danger to the Sharks defence in his first start as a Lion.

His opposite number eight, Sharks captain Phepsi Buthelezi, will look to lead his side to a historic victory against Warren Gatland’s Lions.

The side’s last game against the British and Irish Lions ended 39-3 in a dominant display from Ian McGeechan’s touring side.

Buthelezi and co. will want to provide a bigger challenge to the 2021 Lions than their 2009 counterparts.

The tough task ahead of them includes shutting down threats such as centre Elliot Daly and former Blue Bulls winger Duhan Van Der Merwe.

Daly was a livewire in his natural position for the Lions when he came on at the weekend.

Gatland’s use of ‘roving wingers’ and edge forwards in the first two games with the squad has troubled opposition defences and Sharks players will have to be wary of this.

The Sharks are boosted by the inclusion of fly-half Curwin Bosch, who has been capped twice by the Springboks.

His ever-presence in the side has seen the fly-half become a leader for the backs and his skills will be needed for a good performance on Wednesday.

However, it will be a big ask, nonetheless.

Lineups

British and Irish Lions: Liam Williams, Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Zander Fagerson, Iain Henderson C, Adam Beard, Josh Navidi, Tom Curry, Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Stuart Hogg, Chris Harris.

Cell C Sharks: Manie Libbok, Werner Kok, Jeremy Ward, Marius Louw, Thaakir Abrahams, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Khwezi Mona, Fez Mbatha, Khutha Mchunu, Ruben van Heerden, Hyron Andrews, James Venter, Thembelani Bholi, Phepsi Buthelezi C.

Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Wiehahn Herbst, JJ van der Mescht, Reniel Hugo, Dylan Richardson, Grant Williams, Anthony Volmink.

Betting

Cell C Sharks 11/1

Draw 45/1

British and Irish Lions 1/20

Kick-Off & TV Coverage

The game will kick-off at 6 pm on Wednesday, July 7th in Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

Sky Sports will be showing the game on their Main Event channel with coverage starting at 5 pm.

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Springboks-capped fly-half Curwin Bosch will start the game wearing the number 10.

No.8 Phepsi Buthelezi will wear the armband upon his return to the side after missing their last outing against Western Province.

Khwesi Mona and Khutha Mchunu will have Fez Mbatha in between them in the front row.

Ruben van Heerden and Hyron will start for the side in the second row.

James Venter will pair up with Thembelani Bholi and the previously mentioned Buthelezi in the back row.

21-year-old Jaden Hendrikse will play at scrum-half beside fly-half Bosch.

Marius Louw and Jeremy Ward will make up the midfield pairing for the side with a back three of Thaakir Abrahams, Werner Kok and Manie Libbok.

Substitutes include Ntuthuko Mchunu and former Ulster player Wiehahn Herbst.

The game will be played at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Click here to see the British and Irish Lions side that will play the Sharks.

Sharks side v Lions

Backs

15. Manie Libbok
14. Werner Kok
13. Jeremy Ward
12. Marius Louw
11. Thaakir Abrahams
10. Curwin Bosch
9. Jaden Hendrikse

Forwards

1. Khwezi Mona
2. Fez Mbatha
3. Khutha Mchunu
4. Ruben van Heerden
5. Hyron Andrews
6. James Venter
7. Thembelani Bholi
8. Phepsi Buthelezi C

Replacements:

16. Kerron van Vuuren
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Wiehahn Herbst
19. JJ van der Mescht
20. Reniel Hugo
21. Dylan Richardson
22. Grant Williams
23. Anthony Volmink.

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Wholesale changes have been made to the side that beat the Sigma Lions 56-14 on Saturday.

Iain Henderson will captain the side in their first midweek game of the tour against the Sharks at Ellis Park.

The 29-year-old is the Ulster captain and has experience of wearing the armband for Ireland.

Bundee Aki joins Henderson in the starting lineup at 12.

Mako Vunipola and Luke Cowan-Dickie will get their first starts on Wednesday alongside Scotland’s Zander Fagerson.

Henderson will be paired with Adam Beard at lock, who was chosen to replace Alun Wyn Jones for the tour in South Africa.

Josh Navidi will also get a debut after replacing the injured Justin Tipuric and will start at blindside flanker with England’s Tom Curry on the openside.

Exeter Chiefs’ Sam Simmonds will wear the number eight shirt for the first time on the tour.

Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar form a Wales duo at nine and 10.

The aforementioned Aki will play alongside Saracens’ Elliot Daly at centre, Daly’s natural position.

Duhan Van Der Merwe will return to the starting lineup, with Anthony Watson getting his first start at 14 while top try scorer Josh Adams is rested.

Liam Williams rounds off the side at fullback.

Four Irish players appear on the bench – Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan and Tour Captain Conor Murray.

The game will be available to watch on Sky Sports.

Lions 23 v Sharks

Backs

15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath, England)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht, Ireland)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester, Scotland)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton, Wales)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales)

Forwards

1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter, England)
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow, Scotland)
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster, Ireland) (captain)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales)
6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff, Wales)
7. Tom Curry (Sale, England)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter, England)

Replacements:

16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales)
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester, Scotland)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster, Ireland)
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster, Ireland)
20. Jack Conan (Leinster, Ireland)
21. Conor Murray (Munster, Ireland)
22. Stuart Hogg (Exeter, Scotland)
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester, Scotland)

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