GAME DAY I Sharks and Lions fancied as Bulls face Munster reality check
The Lions and Sharks are tipped to win their home games against the Ospreys and Leinster while the Bulls face a tricky clash with Munster in Ireland.
South Africa’s bid for a second clean sweep in the United Rugby Championship came to an abrupt end in Edinburgh on Friday night, as the Stormers narrowly lost a hard-fought 17-13 game. Former Sharks coach Sean Everitt, now in charge of the Scottish team, seems to have a positive outlook. A similar contest is set for Saturday at Thomond Park, where the Bulls will face Munster.
Despite a solid performance against Parma last week, the Bulls will be up against a tougher challenge from Munster. Coach Johan Ackermann has opted not to field his Springbok front-rowers, indicating a different approach. Munster's recent loss to Glasgow Warriors suggests they may come out strong against the Bulls, possibly winning by three points.
The Lions, meanwhile, will kick off first on Saturday at Ellis Park, 1.45pm, against the Ospreys. Kick-off time is designed to avoid potential storms later in the day. The Lions, who recently upset Leinster, are expected to win by a wide margin, possibly 15 points or more, in a high-scoring match. But the most anticipated game of the weekend might be the clash between Sharks and Leinster in Durban.
The Sharks have shown significant improvement this season, boasting a more balanced and homegrown squad. They appear poised for a victory over Leinster by seven points or more.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
