Ulster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors Preview
Ulster host Glasgow Warriors in their opening game of the new United Rugby Championship season on September 21st at 7:45 pm. It’s a stern test for the Irish province because the Warriors are the defending champions. This is going to be an exciting match to kickstart their campaign.
Glasgow knows that they have a target on their backs after their extraordinary success in last year’s competition. Belfast is a tough city to visit so they’ll need to bring their A-game if they want to win.
Ulster surprisingly enter this game as favourites. But the defending URC champions fancy their chances of upsetting the odds. Tune into their opener at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, August 21st at 7.45 pm.
Ulster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Last season, Ulster finished in sixth place during the URC regular campaign with 54 points. They lost to Leinster in the quarterfinals but hope to show signs of progress. Richie Murphy is in his first full season as a head coach. He has had the summer to carve a new identity for the squad.
They also signed Werner Kok from the Sharks in a statement of intent. Kok adds an injection of quality into their squad depth. Billy Burns may be the most high-profile departee but he was never displacing John Cooney.
Glasgow’s offence was one of their chief weapons last season. They led the URC in many categories including defenders beaten, clean breaks, and were second in metres gained. Meanwhile, Johnny Matthews was the leading try scorer with an impressive 14. Josh McKay was another dangerous weapon and they’ll hope for more of the same.
Racing towards our first #URC game day of 24/25 🏁
Glasgow 🔜
🎟️ https://t.co/alQOWtr5RA pic.twitter.com/s6g30xRUW4
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) September 17, 2024
Ulster’s most influential players include Nick Timoney who had the second-most tackles in the URC. John Cooney was one of the tournament’s standout kickers but is unavailable in this game. Meanwhile, Jacob Stockdale ranked high for metres gained but also lost 25 turnovers.
The Northerners enjoyed a strong finish to their 2023/24 with a four-game winning streak before a loss to Munster. Glasgow enjoyed four straight victories to seal a historic championship. Consistency was Ulster’s main issue last year. They’re capable of going deep into the URC but need better results against the biggest teams.
Ulster and Glasgow have played each other five times since 2020. The Irish province won three of those encounters. However, the Warriors defeated them in their past two meetings. Both of those games were in Scotland. History isn’t kind to Glasgow in Belfast because their last victory was a tight 12-13 win in 2013.
However, Glasgow is a different beast these days and they’re full of confidence. Check out our full United Rugby Championship guide for an in-depth look at the top teams this year.
Ulster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors Predictions
Predicted score: Ulster 14 – 20 Glasgow
Ulster are the favourites to win this rugby match on the online bookmaker. However, we disagree because the Warriors are the reigning champions. We believe that their title will give them confidence and that they’ll carry momentum into the new campaign.
That’s why our rugby prediction is for the Glasgow Warriors to win their season opener against Ulster. We believe that their attacking options will be too hot for Ulster to handle. Johnny Matthews and Josh McKay provide a devastating threat. Matthews has plenty to prove after missing out on the Scotland test squad this summer.
Glasgow has a horrible record in Belfast but they’re rapidly carving a new identity. They enjoyed recent wins over Munster at Thomond Park. The Warriors also travelled to South Africa and defeated the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. This is a new generation and they’ll have no fear about playing Ulster in enemy territory.
They also added Adam Hastings at out-half. The exciting fly-half has an eye on the Scotland team. This could be a defining season for him because he wants to prove he is Finn Russell’s successor.
Ulster’s John Cooney is among the most consistent kickers in the URC. In a massive blow for the Irish province, he is absent for a chunk of this season. Former New Zealand U-20 star Aidan Morgan may start in his absence after Billy Burns joined Munster.
Ulster received some good news when Stuart McCloskey inked a contract extension. Unlike some of the other big Irish teams, they haven’t lost any key men. Iain Henderson also returns from a toe injury to strengthen Ulster’s ranks. They have strong leaders in their dressing room.
He’s not leaving. pic.twitter.com/lNP30SvoAX
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) September 17, 2024
Jacob Stockdale could have a defining role in this game. Richie Murphy has an overdependency on the Ireland wing. There was a time when Stockdale was a certain starter for the national team. If he can regain consistency and get back to that form, he’ll be lethal for Ulster. They hope that Werner Kok can take the pressure off Stockdale.
Ulster also have a new forwards coach in Jimmy Duffy. It remains to be seen how quickly the team responds to his methods. It will be extremely tough to stop this direct Glasgow side. Keep an eye on the in-play betting odds. Rugby is an extremely physical sport. Injuries and sinbins can change the entire course of a game.
Ulster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors Betting Tips
Ulster enter this game with a home advantage. Perhaps that’s why they’re the favourites on the sports betting platform. It’s currently 3/5 for them to defeat the Glasgow Warriors in Belfast. A €10 stake would earn €6 if successful.
Meanwhile, Glasgow is a 7/4 underdog. This time a €10 stake would make a €14 profit if the Warriors emerge victorious. This is an excellent price given their status as URC champions. We favour betting on Glasgow because we don’t think the odds reflect their status.
Remember, Ulster are missing several key players including Cooney and Rob Herring. Their fly-half situation remains in doubt and they’re going to have to adapt to these issues. On the other hand, the Warriors have a more settled team. They’ve even sprinkled some extra quality with the addition of Aidan Morgan.
This could be a close game so we wouldn’t advise applying a handicap because it is risky. However, betting on rugby is enjoyable because there are many different markets to play and select. Remember to apply one of the platform’s many promotions to enhance your potential profit. New players can also use the welcome bonus.
Some players may want to make an over-under bet on the number of points in this game. Glasgow has some lethal attackers but Ulster’s forwards are strong. This may not be one of the highest-scoring matches of the season.
Check out the winning margin. It’s 3/1 for Glasgow to win by 1 to 7 points. This is an outstanding price and could make €30 from €10. Meanwhile, it’s 12/5 for Ulster to win by the same margin. The same stake could make €24. Another option is odd/even match total points. However, this is a coin toss so it’s up to the player to decide.
Glasgow Warriors officially begin their URC title defence this coming Saturday 🏆⚔️ pic.twitter.com/7UbdNecv2g
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 17, 2024
It’s always worth looking at individual player odds. Jacob Stockdale is usually Ulster’s main threat but Werner Kok could be this season’s surprise package. Meanwhile, we know all about Glasgow’s exciting options like Matthews. We think that he’ll pick up where he left off after an electric 2023/24 campaign.
There are plenty of opportunities to bet on United Rugby Championship games this weekend. Create an accumulator with the other Irish teams to boost the odds and maximise the potential profit. Leinster travel to Edinburgh while Munster host Connacht in an all-Ireland clash.
Finally, don’t forget to look beyond this game. Glasgow are fifth favourites in the URC betting to win the title this year URC again this year at 12/1 with €10 potentially making €120. Leinster lead the pack while Munster are third favourites. It’s 16/1 for Ulster to claim their first title since the Celtic League in 2006.
Ulster Rugby Team News
Richie Murphy has a strong squad available for Ulster’s URC season opener. Werner Kok is in line to make his competitive debut. Captain Iain Henderson provides a massive boost with his return from injury.
However, there are some notable absentees. Rob Herring and John Cooney are out of action in a massive blow for Murphy. Aidan Morgan will likely play in the No. 10 role. Jack Murphy also adds depth after joining from Leinster. Rob Balacoune and Tom Stewart are also absentees.
Glasgow Warriors Team News
Rory Sutherland and Adam Hastings could make their Warriors debuts this weekend. We expect to see a full-strength Glasgow side. Franco Smith has all his best players available for this big game.
