Connacht Rugby vs The Sharks Preview
Connacht Rugby welcomes the Sharks to Galway for an important rugby game. The Irish side suffered a narrow defeat to provincial rivals Munster last weekend. They hope to return to winning ways in front of their home fans. This is the first match of the new 2024-25 season for all South African sides after the conclusion of the Currie Cup.
This match takes place at 7:35 pm Irish time at the Dexcom Stadium. Referee Federico Vedovelli takes charge of Connacht vs the Sharks. The Westerners looked sharp against Munster last time out but fell two points short of a draw. There is no way of telling how the Sharks will perform, and they are effectively a week behind in preparations compared to the other sides in the URC.
Connacht Rugby vs The Sharks Predictions
Score Prediction: Connacht 28-12 Sharks
The first couple weeks of the URC are notoriously difficult to predict. New bodies, managers, and players mean anyone can beat anyone in the first few games before things settle down. Connacht lost last weekend to Munster in a thrilling rugby match. This week, our rugby prediction is for the men in green to get their first win of the season.
The Sharks had a miserable season last time around, picking up four wins and 14 losses across the 18-game campaign. However, they shocked us when they topped Pool One of the European Rugby Challenge Cup. They defeated Edinburgh and Clermont on their way to the ERCC 23/24 Final. The South African side faced Gloucester and dominated for most of the game to run out worthy winners at 36-22.
Connacht won as many as they lost in the URC last year. They had moments where they looked capable of taking the game to anyone, but their defensive lines let them down. Unfortunately for Connacht fans, those features appeared consistently through their opening game of the season. Betting on the URC this weekend will be difficult as it could be another open-ended high-scoring game.
The Sharks are yet to begin the new season, which has afforded them an extra week to prepare for this clash. Often in rugby, playing weekly matches helps players find form, which means the advantage is with the Irish side heading into this weekend. They looked hard to stop when running at the Munster defence, something the Sharks will struggle to deal with. However, the South Africans will find success through the middle of the park, as Munster revealed far too many holes for Connacht to patch.
Our scoreline prediction is for Connacht to win and to outscore their opponents by over 15 points. However, this could change depending on how effectively the players respond from last weekend. The boys in green did more than enough to win the game at Munster. However, poor tackles and defensive mistakes cost them, even though they looked so dangerous going forward. If the Sharks can exploit the same gaps, we could easily see a game with over 60 points scored again. We expect Connacht to tighten up and limit the chances of the South African side causing an upset.
Connacht Rugby vs The Sharks Betting Tips
Betting on rugby union matches is always a lot of fun, and this fixture promises to deliver. The Sharks were the third-weakest side in the URC last season, having only won four games. While we expect The Sharks to improve on the performances of the previous campaign, we predict Connacht is too strong for them. You can bet on Connacht to win this match at Novibet.
Our online sports betting platform has Connacht to win at 3/10. They are the clear favourites, with a ten-euro stake returning as little as three in profit. Betting on the Sharks could be worthwhile at 5/2, but an upset on Irish soil seems unlikely. A draw is out of the question, but at 20/1, you stand to make outrageous returns if you foresee the impossible.
To maximise your returns this weekend, look at handicap betting. If you select the Connacht -13.5 market, you can secure returns worth 19/10. That means if the Irish side wins the rugby match by 14 points or more, a €10 bet will return €29 in total. Choosing almost any handicap market is sure to give you better returns than just backing the Irish side to win.
In the last game, Connacht had five tries scored by four players. Ben Murphy was the only player to score twice, and we back him to get on the scoresheet again. Cathal Forde also has a good chance of scoring again, especially after his impressive solo try in the 65th minute. Betting on a Sharks player to score is risky as we are yet to see them line out this weekend.
If you remain undecided about what to bet on this weekend, in-play wagers are a fantastic alternative. You can wait until the match kicks off before deciding where to put your money. Last weekend, Connacht started brightly until a yellow card came to Santiago Cordero. We do not expect the Argentine to go into the book again, but the leaky Irish defence could see another man sent to the sin bin. If the Sharks can avoid disciplinary action as well, they stand to score a try or two with the man advantage.
Two points heading back to Galway.
Thanks to the travelling support today and we will see you at Dexcom Stadium next Saturday 💚#MUNvCON | #BKTURC pic.twitter.com/8KrTMQMsss
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) September 21, 2024
If you are looking to bet on the winner of the URC, now is a good time to lock in your bets. It is extremely unlikely that either side will challenge for the top spot, but the Sharks surprised us all with a Challenge Cup victory last year. Strange things happen in rugby union, so it makes sense to lock in your predictions early and secure favourable returns.
Connacht Rugby vs The Sharks Key Stats and Head-To-Head
Connacht vs the Sharks have taken place three times since 2022. The first meeting was in April 2022 and the South African side were the worthy winners. It finished 41-21 and remains the only game won by the Sharks against Connacht. The Irish team has won the next two by much tighter margins. In January 2023, Connacht won at home 24-12. When the teams faced off in November 2023, Connacht won again, but this time, by a single point.
In all three games, Connacht has seen one player sent to the sin bin. This is a worrying statistic for anyone betting on rugby matches. Yellow cards can change games, and against an unpredictable side like the Sharks, a sin bin could spell trouble. Connacht’s best chance of winning this game is by locking down the defence. That means avoiding the wrath of the referee and plugging the gaps revealed by Munster last weekend. The Sharks have nothing to lose as few will expect a result on the road this early in the campaign.
Connacht’s most recent game was a loss to provincial rivals Munster in the first game of the season. However, they have not won in four in the URC. Looking at the end of last year, Connacht lost on the road to Leinster, at home to the Stormers, and away to Munster. The scoreline against the Reds last year was a humiliating 47-12, so they have closed the gap to their Irish rivals. They looked good in the season opener, but there is a chance the Sharks can lay it on, especially if they smell blood.
The South African side lost their final URC match last season against the Bulls. A 14-26 defeat at home did not upset the home crowd too much after winning the Challenge Cup against Gloucester in May. Before that, the Sharks lost to Cardiff and Benetton in the league, highlighting their troubles at the foot of the table. They will want to start the campaign with a bang but will have it all to do against Connacht.
SQUAD UPDATE
Shayne Bolton suffered a knee laceration against Munster which has unfortunately ruled him out of the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa.
He will be further assessed by the Connacht medical team next week.
Taking his place on the Emerging Ireland tour will be… pic.twitter.com/ppUnUvh3E6
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) September 24, 2024
Connacht Rugby Team News
Pete Wilkins announced his squad for the 7:35 pm kick-off with the Sharks on September 28th. Denis Buckley reaches a monumental milestone, registering 250 appearances for the province. Joe Joyce and Shayne Bolton are injured and will be replaced by Niall Murray and Shane Jennings. Darragh Murray and Jack Aungier lose their spots thanks to an Emerging Ireland tour in South Africa. David O’Connor and Finlay Bealham get the chance to step up.
The Sharks Team News
The Hollywoodbets Sharks have named their squad for the upcoming tour and the starting 15 for the URC game against Connacht. Five players will make their debuts, including Ruan Dreyer, Jason Jenkins, Manu Tshituka, Jurenzo Julius, and Jordan Hendrikse. Plus, three other fresh faces line up on the bench. Given the recent matches in the Currie Cup tournament, several players are set to miss out because of injury. Ten players are currently listed as unavailable, including Reyneke, van Heerden, and Mona. There is no current estimated return date for any player.
