Ulster Rugby vs Dragons RFC Preview
With another break in the Six Nations, the United Rugby Championship returns this weekend. Ulster vs the Dragons is one highlight, as there is a lot on the line for both teams. The match between the Northern Irish and Welsh takes place on Saturday, March 2nd, at 7:35 pm. The Kingspan Stadium in Belfast could be the perfect venue for a crucial game of rugby.
Ulster has been consistently inconsistent this season. After another poor performance in the league, the Northern Irish side sacked head coach Dan McFarland. The discontent from fans has been growing this season, and the 19-17 defeat to the Ospreys was the nail in the coffin. If Ulster is in trouble, then the Dragons are having a nightmare. They are joint bottom in the URC with the worst point difference after ten games. Either side needs a win to boost their confidence over the next week.
Ulster Rugby vs Dragons RFC Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Given the instability in Ulster, the Dragons will know they have a chance. This has traditionally been a one-sided affair, with the Northern Irish team picking up nine wins in the last ten meetings. The Welsh club has been without a win in this fixture since 2015. However, given how much the Dragons have struggled this season, is this the perfect time to hit back?
The last time Ulster hosted in this matchup was in April last year. They outplayed the visitors throughout the match, taking advantage of some Welsh ill-discipline. David McCann opened the scoring up inside ten minutes with a try, closely followed by a score from the Welsh. Between two Tom Stewart first-half scores, Elliot Dee went to the sin bin. The first half ended 19-7, and Ulster picked up where they left off after the break. Stewart completed his hat trick before Dee redeemed himself with a score. Rhodri Williams gave the visitors hope, but substitute Nick Timoney put the home side out of reach. To cap off a poor performance, Ashton Hewitt gave away a penalty try with one minute to play.
Looking at the last time the Dragons’ hosted Ulster does not give much confidence to the Welsh side. A late yellow card for substitute Mesake Doge ended all hopes of a comeback before they even began. The visitors held them to a scoreless game of 0-12. Finishing a rugby union match without a point on the board is never good. However, the Welsh defended better to keep Ulster within touching distance. There is not much a bettor can take from this fixture, other than there has been a gulf in class between Ulster and the Dragons for some time now.
Looking at the recent form of both teams this season, little separates the sides. Ulster has lost their last three matches, one in the URC and two in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Those were costly defeats in the cup as Ulster moved to the Challenge Cup instead. The Dragons received a hammering last week in the URC and lost both cup games. There is no chance these teams will meet again in the Challenge Cup, as the Dragons did not advance past the group stage.
Betting on Ulster is probably the best option, but with an interim head coach, there are a lot of unknowns heading into the weekend. Ulster must find another level after losing matches without showing enough fight or character. The same applies to the Dragons, but the expectation is lower. When two URC teams face off in similar forms, anything can happen. If you are going to bet on the rugby this week, this is a match that could yield the biggest surprise.
Ulster Rugby vs Dragons RFC Predictions
Correct Score Prediction: Ulster Rugby 27 – 13 Dragons RFC
We predict the Northern Irish team will comfortably win this match, even with a recent change in management. Playing in front of the home fans will have a big impact this week, as morale around Ulster will be low. The players need a boost and could easily get it from a convincing display under interim manager Richie Murphy. The Dragons have struggled immensely this season, and the few victories they have picked up have all been at home. There is close to no chance they can pull off an upset in the URC this weekend.
This week is looking like a tough one for any teams near the bottom of the URC league table. Most of the best squads face the sides struggling with this campaign. Statistically, teams like Ulster will have more players unavailable at the Six Nations compared to the Gwent Dragons, but is that enough? The Northern Irish side has better squad depth and 19 more points collected this campaign. Rugby predictions this week must be more precise to avoid low returns.
Although Ulster has recently departed with their head coach, we expect the team to bounce back strongly this weekend. They have the personnel to put over 25 points between themselves and the visitors. However, they are a long way from being a genuine threat in the league this season. We expect Ulster to find their scoring boots and get ten points ahead of the Dragons at halftime. From there, we expect the home side to stretch out a lead of around 15 points by the final whistle.
If you were going to bet on the Newport Dragons, a handicap bet is your best option. Even if you choose the +25.5 market, which means the visitors must be within 26 points for you to win, it returns more than an outright prediction on Ulster. Other than this market, any wager on the away side is probably a waste of money. Ulster might struggle, but their problems are nothing compared to the team from Newport.
It could be worth waiting for the game to start when placing your rugby bet this week. If the Dragons can get the first points of the day, any wager on the home side should go up in terms of reward. Live betting on the hosts to overturn an early try still seems risk-free. Ulster needs to win again to get the fans back on their side.
Ulster Rugby vs Dragons RFC Betting Tips
When betting on the URC this week, there are several one-sided matches. That means rugby accumulators and other wagers that combine the results of multiple games are probably worth avoiding this week. Looking at the odds for this match at the online betting site, backing Ulster is almost not worth it. The odds at 1/50 mean you will only get €10.20 from a ten-euro wager. Equally, there is little to gain in placing a bet on the underdogs this week, as they are valued at 10/1. A draw would be a remarkable achievement for the visitors, and it would pay 50/1 at Novibet.
This week, our rugby betting tips involve guessing how many points Ulster will win by. We predict the hosts will hold a lead of 15 points or more, which has odds of 1/4. A €20 wager on this market will only give you €25. If you think the Welsh side can put up more of a fight, the 8-14 point winning margin has much better returns. Placing the same value bet for this market will give you €84. This is a risky wager, as Ulster will score significantly more points than the Dragons.
Looking at the last ten meetings between these teams, five have ended with an odd number of points scored, and five were even. That brings the odd or even market into play this week, as getting this prediction right will give you fantastic returns. Both markets have odds of 17/20, which means betting €10 will yield €18.50. We are backing the game to finish with an even number of points at full-time. This is a fantastic alternative with much less risk compared to other wagers.
If you are going to sign up for an online betting platform, this week could be the easiest for a long time. However, just because the fixtures are straightforward to bet on does not mean there are suitable rewards. If you register for Novibet this week, you will receive a welcome bonus. Betting on these games will ensure that if you win, your returns are lower than expected. It could be a good idea to skip this weekend and sign up for the next round of fixtures in a few weeks.
🏉 @URCOfficial Origins
This Saturday we'll be supporting the URC's Origins Round to celebrate grassroots rugby.
Our players will wear their origin socks and we are inviting our supporters to rock up to Kingspan Stadium in your finest club gear!
More info below ⬇️
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) February 29, 2024
Ulster Rugby Team News
Without a head coach, news around the club has been quiet. The medical staff announced there are several players still unavailable in this fixture. Callum Reid, Alan O’Connor, Ben Moxham, Stewart Moore, and Rob Herring are not fit enough to rejoin the squad. With this much uncertainty and change in the side, staff and players being tight-lipped is probably for the best.
Dragons RFC Team News
Dragons’ head coach, Dai Flanagan, has done his bit to inspire the troops. They released Taine Basham from the Wales international side. Flanagan has urged Basham to show everyone what he can do. The coach feels the national team has not utilised his talents effectively and hopes the player can find a rhythm. They also gave an update on the condition of Harison Keddie, Dan Lydiate, George Nott, and Ollie Griffiths. All players are edging closer to a return, but this week might be too soon for them.
