Leinster vs Stormers Tips - Leinster to cover handicap at home

Marc Thomas

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Last updated: 23 Mar 2023

Marc Thomas 23 Mar 2023

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Watch Leinster vs Stormers on Friday in the United Rugby Championship (19:35 GMT)
Hosts have won all 15 matches this season
Can the Stormers throw down the gauntlet in Ireland?

Expired

Leinster to cover handicap at home against Stormers (Getty Images)

Leinster vs Stormers Preview

This could be an interesting clash between the top two sides on the URC table. There are issues for both sides though as the Irish internationals may not all feature for the hosts and the Stormers’ internationals have not played for close on two months.

Leinster vs Stormers Preview
Head to Head
Leinster Form
Leinster Team News
Stormers Form
Stormers Team News

It makes it hard to predict this one but at home I fancy Leinster to cover the -10 handicap.

Leinster have won their last 15 matches.
Leinster have covered the -10 handicap in their last 5 matches.
Stormers have won their last 3 matches.
Stormers beat Leinster in their last meeting.

Head to Head

Stormers beat Leinster 20-13 in their only previous meeting. That match took place last season in Cape Town.

Leinster Form

Leinster are cruising at the top of the URC table on 71 points, 12 clear of their opponents who are in second place. The Irish giants have won all 15 matches and have a points different of 269 along with 11 bonus points.

There has not been much URC rugby in recent weeks with the Six Nations ongoing, and while that is finished, we could find key players being rested now. At the end of January Leinster beat Cardiff 38-14 before seeing off the Dragons 43-14.

Last time out, in the beginning of March, Leinster beat Edinburgh 47-27 in Scotland. Key for Leinster will be that they keep their winning momentum, as last year they dominated every competition but then fell at the semi-finals or finals.

Leinster Team News

Leinster are not expected to be at full strength with key Irish internationals being rested after the completion of the Six Nations last weekend.

Stormers Form

The defending URC champions have put in another good showing this year, winning 11 of their 15 matches. One ended in a draw along with three defeats, which puts them five points clear of Ulster in third place.

Quite conceivably this could easily end up being the URC final this year, so it is an opportunity for the Stormers to test themselves against Leinster in foreign conditions.

The Cape Town-based outfit has won their last three games, all local derbies. They have beaten the Sharks twice and the Bulls once.

What may be on John Dobson’s mind is their last trip to Ireland where the Stormers were comfortably beaten 35-5.

Stormers Team News

Ruhan Nel has been ruled out as he awaits the birth of his child. That means Suleiman Hartzenberg or Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu could fill in at centre.

The other option is Damian Willemse who could occupy the 12 jersey. While all internationals are available, they have not played for close on two months which would make them quite rusty.

Verdict

Leinster v Stormers

Leinster are tipped to cover the -10 handicap against the Stormers.

Leinster -10

Handicap

@-111.11 - 5 Units

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