Leinster Rugby vs Sale Sharks Preview
Week two of the European Champions Cup is upon us, and this Saturday, Leinster host the Sale Sharks. After just a six-day turnaround for both teams, the Chargers will run out at the RDS Arena on Saturday, December 16 at 5:30 pm. It is the showdown of the week as the table-topping teams meet to assert their dominance in Europe.
Leinster sit top of the URC rankings with six wins from seven matches. Sale Sharks lead the way in the Guinness Premiership with six from eight. Despite the form of both sides, the hosts run onto the field as favourites to win their second consecutive match of the campaign.
Leinster Rugby vs Sale Sharks Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Leinster and Sharks have not faced each other in a Champions Cup rugby match, which makes the encounter more enticing. However, while these teams have yet to establish a rivalry, they head into the fixture in fine form. Both teams rule their respective domestic leagues and are coming off a winning performance in week one of the ERCC.
Leinster arguably had the tougher encounter in week one, with an away game to defending champions La Rochelle. Leo Cullen’s troops broke the curse against Ronan O’Gara’s outfit in a messy affair plagued by rain. The match ended 9-16 in favour of the visitors, but it was not one to read too much into.
Besides two uncanny defeats to Exeter and Harlequins, Sale has kept their defence tight. They have restricted opponents like Saints, Bath, Gloucester, and Stade Francais to less than 15 points a match.
Attack Stats
Leinster holds a superior attacking record this season, outclassing Sale on points scored, tries, metres gained, and clean breaks. The 16 points scored against La Rochelle last Sunday led to the least points registered by the Dubliners in a game this season.
Leinster has conjured up 227 points in the 2023/24 URC this season, averaging 32 every match. That is almost 14 points more than the Sale Sharks average in the Guinness Premiership. The only attacking area where Sale comes out ahead is for defenders beaten. However, Sale has played one extra game in their domestic league compared to Leinster.
Defensive Stats
The men from Salford have delivered a superior defensive effort this season. They only trail Leinster in tackles missed, but you can forgive them as they have played 80 additional minutes over their peers. Credit to the home team for an exceptional defence against La Rochelle on Sunday, and Jacques Nienaber’s acquisition is already paying dividends.
Paul Deacon’s troops have executed 41 more tackles than the Irishmen and have won 52 turnovers to Leinster’s 50. Although Sale is a solid defensive unit, they will face constant pressure as the Dubliners look to create gaps out wide.
Set Piece Stats
Sale has the upper hand in the line-out, with Jonny Hill continuing his sublime line-out jumping form. The Mancunians have won 90% of their line-outs in the Premiership, five per cent higher than what Leinster has achieved in the URC.
The Dubliners flip the script in the scrum, boasting a 90% success rate in franchise rugby. That is eight per cent higher than the Sale Sharks, and they have done it without the presence of tighthead powerhouse Tadhg Furlong, who remains in doubt for this clash.
Discipline Stats
The URC and Guinness Premiership outfits have similar discipline records, both notching up three yellow cards this season. Neither side has copped a red card, which should comfort punters betting on Sharks vs Leinster. Given their track record, it is unlikely a card will ruin the match, but anything can happen in the no-head contact era.
Leinster has conceded 17 fewer penalties than Sale Sharks this season, but it helps that they have a match in hand.
Leinster Rugby vs Sale Sharks Predictions
Bookmakers typically favour the home team in rugby union betting, and it is no different this weekend. Leinster is the bookie’s favourite priced at 1/100. A ten euro bet would return €10.10, highlighting how confident punters are in the Dubliners.
If you think an upset is on the card, you can nail down Sale Sharks for a win at 16/1. That means a ten euro punt may return €170. The bookies have a draw priced at 100/1, raising the yield of a ten-euro bet to €1,010. Sale Sharks will face a vociferous crowd at the RDS Arena and a Leinster side brimming with confidence after a successful journey to the west coast of France.
Pound-for-pound Leinster should out-skill and muscle Sale Sharks in this encounter. On paper, their squad possesses more experience and international quality than the English. One area of concern for Leinster is at fly-half, with Harry Byrne relegated to the stands to nurse a concussion. His injury comes two weeks after his older brother Ross injured his arm against Munster, playing in the same position.
Contrary to Leinster’s fly-half predicament, Sale Sharks are strong in that department, with the precise boot of George Ford guiding his team. Ford is one to watch out for. If Leinster gives him too much space behind the ruck or scrum, he will gladly execute a drop goal. He will need as many three-pointers as he can land because the Leinster attack will not let up on a day where no rain is forecast.
Based on the recent form of these teams, we are predicting a comfortable win for Leinster. Sale will do well to keep the difference within 20 points, but the Irish outfit should run away with it in the end.
Leinster Rugby vs Sale Sharks Betting Tips
Leinster vs Sale Sharks is an ideal match to splurge your welcome bonus with minimal risk. Since Leinster is highly favoured, you could enjoy a greater chance of returns without dipping into your pocket. Naturally, there are no guarantees, and despite Leinster’s favourable odds, there is also room for an upset.
There is very little in it for an outright win on Leinster, with a €10 bet set to return €10.10. It is unwise to bet against the Lions, which is why I suggest looking at in-play betting, handicap bets, or a winning margin wager.
The bookies priced Leinster at 10/11 for a -25 match handicap, which means a €20 punt is likely to return €38.18. To win your bet, Leinster needs to score at least 26 points more than their opponents. That way, when you subtract the handicap, they still have more points than Sale Sharks.
Remember that the next round of fixtures is the last weekend to place wagers on the European Rugby Champions Cup in 2023. The competition will return to our screens in the middle of January.
Leinster Rugby Team News & Lineups
Ciaran Frawley looks set to get a start this weekend after showing composure to grab nine points with the boot against La Rochelle. He will take over the kicking responsibilities from the injured Harry Byrne, who is nursing a concussion.
Michael Milne has returned to full training after returning from a shoulder injury, and is available for selection this weekend.
Read 👉 https://t.co/dQmoGXpPcp#FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/KFoPNQOPXp
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 12, 2023
Leinster are plagued with injuries at the moment and Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe are two key players who will not run out onto the pitch this weekend. There is some positive news for the Dubliners, with Jack Conan and Michael Milne touted to return.
- Leinster Predicted Lineup: A. Porter, D. Sheehan, M. Ala’alatoa, J. McCarthy, J. Ryan, R. Baird, W. Connors, C. Doris, J. Gibson Park, C. Frawley, J. O’Brien, R. Henshaw, G. Ringrose, J. Larmour, H. Keenan
Sale Sharks Team News & Lineups
Sale Sharks are still managing without star flanker Tom Curry, who will be out of action until after Christmas. However, his twin Ben is doing an excellent job captaining the team. They currently sit at the top of the Guinness Premiership and are coming off an impressive victory last weekend.
Another star name missing from action is star hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie who missed the Rugby World Cup because of a neck injury. Overall, Sale has a fuller complement of key players available for selection. However, they will be up against the pump when they face a world-class Leinster side.
- Sale Sharks Predicted Lineup: S. McIntyre, T. Taylor, N. Schonert, B. Bamber, J. Hill, S. Dugdale, B. Curry, D. Du Preez, G. Warr, G. Ford, T. O’Flaherty, M. Tuilagi, S. James, T. Roebuck, J. Carpenter
