Ulster Rugby vs Sharks Rugby Preview
Ulster Rugby welcomes the Sharks to the Kingspan Stadium on April 26th at 7:35 pm for a crunch-time clash in the URC. A win for the Ulstermen could propel them into the playoff places with just two games remaining in the regular season.
The Sharks are sitting pretty in fourth place and look destined to secure a return to the knockout stages after their disappointing league finish last season. Can Ulster begin a playoff surge at the Kingspan, or will the Sharks leave them floundering in the mid-table?
Ulster Rugby vs Sharks Rugby Predictions
Correct score prediction: Ulster 31-27 Sharks
One of our best rugby predictions this week is for Ulster to defeat the Sharks on Saturday night. The Sharks enter the game as the favourites, but historically they have struggled when playing away against Irish sides. The Durbanites have never defeated an Irish side on Irish soil since they arrived in the league in 2021. Ulster are still on the hunt for a spot in the playoff places, and they can start a surge up the table with a win against the South African side.
The Ulstermen will heavily rely on their robust forward pack in this game. Cormac Izuchukwu will lead that pack after returning from injury against Leinster last week. Iain Henderson may also return in this match, which would be an enormous boost for an already strong pack. They will assert dominance at the set-piece and in open play. Their ability to secure possession and provide quick ruck ball will be vital in launching attacks for the Ulstermen.
The back row will play a pivotal role in stopping one of the most lethal attacking teams in the league. They have strong breakdown skills and a high work rate, which will be key to turning over possession. Ulster’s discipline at the breakdown and ability to contest the ball effectively will be vital in denying the Sharks quick ball. David McCann has been a consistently powerful performer for Ulster, and the number 8 will be an important cog in the defensive system in this crunch-time game.
Set pieces will be one of the most important battles in this game. Neither side has been strong on lineouts and in the scrum this season. The Sharks have won 155 lineouts compared to Ulster’s 169. That leaves them 15th and 13th in the league, respectively. Additionally, the Sharks have won 86% of their scrums and Ulster 87%, 14th and 12th in the URC, respectively. The numbers indicate Ulster have a slight edge, and success in set-pieces could be the difference between winning and losing on Saturday night.
There is no surprise that the Sharks are the favourites for this game, given their position in the league and attacking record. Only three teams in the URC have scored more points than the Sharks this season. However, Ulster are not miles behind them, having scored 15 fewer. The home advantage will be key for the Irish side and give them the confidence to press high, turnover possession and outscore the Sharks.
The Sharks’ blend of power and flair, coupled with their experience in high-pressure situations, gives them the tools to challenge Ulster. However, Ulster’s home advantage at the Kingspan cannot be underestimated. They have performed well at home, but more importantly, the Sharks have been poor in Ireland. Ulster need to pick up wins at this late stage of the season, and this is a great opportunity to claim a huge scalp in the hunt for knockout rugby.
Players To Watch
- Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster, Lock/Flanker): Cormac Izuchukwu will be pivotal to Ulster’s forward pack in this game. His versatility allows him to adapt seamlessly between lock and blindside flanker, two incredibly tough rugby positions to explain. He will be influential in both set-pieces and open play against one of the strongest teams in the league.
- Aphelele Fassi (Sharks, Fullback/Wing): Aphelele Fassi’s pace and counter-attacking ability make him a constant threat. His positioning and timing on kick returns will be crucial in setting up attacking opportunities for the Sharks. Fassi eats up ground with the ball in his hands, and any kicks towards the South African international put immediate pressure on his opponents.
Ulster Rugby vs Sharks Rugby Betting Tips
- Full-Time Result – Ulster to win: Ulster are the home underdogs for this game, worth 5/4. The Durbanites are a better team on paper, and a bet on the Sharks is worth 5/8, but they have a terrible record in Ireland. Furthermore, Ulster have an excellent record at Kingspan against South African sides. They have never lost a home game to a South African team in the URC/Pro 14. Bet on Ulster to win this game.
- Winning Margin – Ulster by 1 to 7 points: The URC betting indicates this will be a tight game. Five of Ulster’s previous six URC games have ended with winning margins of no more than five points. All the Sharks’ previous four games have ended with winning margins of three points or fewer. Ulster to win by 1 to 7 points is worth 14/5 with our online betting site.
- Handicap – Ulster +4: The Sharks are still a major threat despite their poor record in Ireland. They have been one of the best-performing teams in the URC this season and sit fourth in the league. However, recent results indicate that a win would not come at a wide margin, and we recommend backing Ulster to cover their handicap. A bet on Ulster to cover is worth 8/11 for anyone betting on rugby union.
Ulster Rugby vs Sharks Rugby Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These sides last met in March 2024 in round 12 of the URC. Ulster fell to a 22-12 defeat against in a physically intense URC clash in Durban. Despite a promising start, Ulster couldn’t maintain momentum against a powerful Sharks outfit. An early try from Harry Sheridan, converted by John Cooney, gave Ulster a 7-0 lead. However, Sharks responded through Phepsi Buthelezi after a missed Ulster clearance. Siya Masuka converted to level the score.
A second-half surge saw Sharks winger Eduan Keyter score following a kick-chase, and Masuka added a penalty to stretch the lead. Ulster fought back with a Kieran Treadwell try from a rolling maul, but Cooney’s conversion drifted wide. Tensions flared late on with Iain Henderson, James Hume, and Vincent Tshituka all receiving yellow cards. Capitalising on the extra man, Bongi Mbonambi powered over to seal the result.
Ulster last played on April 19th when they travelled to meet table-toppers Leinster. They endured a night of adversity at the Aviva Stadium, falling to a 47-17 defeat. Already hit by the late withdrawal of Stuart McCloskey, Ulster’s backline was further depleted by early injuries to Stewart Moore and Mike Lowry. Despite a promising start and an early penalty from Jack Murphy, Leinster responded through tries from Tommy O’Brien and Tom Clarkson.
Cormac Izuchukwu’s try brought Ulster within striking distance, but a penalty try just before half-time and a yellow card to Dave McCann shifted momentum firmly to the hosts. Leinster pulled away in the second half, with Garry Ringrose scoring their bonus-point try before Dan Sheehan ran in a hat-trick. Matty Dalton scored a late consolation for Ulster, but the result was never in doubt as Leinster’s dominance extended their lead at the top of the table.
The Sharks played on the evening prior and saw out a gritty, last-gasp victory over Edinburgh on the road. They claimed a dramatic 18-17 victory with a try from Makazole Mapimpi in injury time. The hosts appeared to be heading for a narrow win before a late surge by the Sharks flipped the script.
Jordan Hendrikse opened the scoring for the visitors with a long-range penalty, but Edinburgh responded with two unconverted tries to take a 10-6 lead into the break. The Sharks struck early in the second half through Aphelele Fassi. Edinburgh regained the lead at 17-13 during a scrappy spell that saw three yellow cards issued. In the 81st minute, Makazole Mapimpi showed how professionals can exploit the length of a rugby pitch with excellent movement to snatch a try and the victory.
Ulster Key Stats
- 10th in the URC (Three points out of playoff places)
- 358 points scored (8th in the league)
- 399 points allowed (14th in the league)
- 354 defenders beaten (3rd most in the league)
- No player has more successful carries (86) than Dave McCann in the URC
- Only one player has beaten more defenders (50) than Jacob Stockdale in the URC
Sharks Key Stats
- 4th in the URC (11 points clear in the playoff places)
- 373 points scored (4th best in the league)
- 370 points conceded (7th in the league)
- 235 turnovers lost (Most in the league)
- Only one player has scored more tries (7) than Siya Kolisi in the URC
- Only one player has scored more points (111) than Jordan Hendrikse in the URC
