Ulster Rugby vs Racing 92 Preview
It’s the second week of the European Rugby Champions Cup, and Ulster host Racing 92. The competition began last weekend, and both clubs lost to English sides in their first fixture. The club from Northern Ireland will take on the French side this Saturday, December 16, at 8:00 PM. Neither team will want to head back into the regular season with consecutive cup defeats, making this game a must-win.
The iconic Kingspan Stadium in Belfast is the venue of choice this weekend. Heading into the fixture, there is nothing between the clubs. The bookies are offering close to even odds for either team to walk away victorious on Saturday. Ulster is trying to come out of a three-game losing streak, and Racing 92 is not in much better shape. Even with some poor performances in recent weeks, Ulster is the marginal favourite with the advantage of playing on home turf.
Ulster Rugby vs Racing 92 Head-To-Head and Key Stats
The sides have only met twice in the last five years, both times in the ERCC. They have each hosted one game and share the spoils at one apiece. The first match was in late October 2018, and the French side had the advantage of home fans. Ulster started strongly securing a Shanahan try inside five minutes. Even when the Northern Irish side went down to 14, with Nick Timoney sent to the sin bin after 15 minutes, they responded with a score from J. Stockdale.
However, the game turned after 25 minutes, and the hosts scored two tries and a penalty right before the break. The halftime score was 20-12, and you would think that either team could go on and win this match. However, Ulster completely fell apart in the second half. Imhoff got a score early in the next half, followed by a try from Thomas and Zebo. The visitors did not get a single point on the board in the final 40 minutes, losing the second half 24-0. The utter demolition meant the final score was 44-12, and the French side were the worthy winners.
When the sides faced off again in mid-January 2019, Ulster wanted revenge. This time, they played in Northern Ireland, and Ulster won by a much tighter margin compared to the last meeting. Once again, Ulster started the game with points on the board, this time a penalty in the first minute. Baloucoune got the first score of the game seven minutes later, and Stockdale followed suit. The visitors got two tries of their own in the first half, leaving the score 16-10 at the interval.
The second half was more equal, with Ulster once again getting the first score. A score and conversion by Addison opened a healthy lead that the French side reduced. They got within one thanks to two more tries by Dulin and Klemenczak and a conversion by Iribaren. With one point in the game, Ulster held off Racing 92 and scored a last-minute penalty to provide some breathing room. The game finished 26-22, and Ulster fought hard for a win on home turf.
Neither side covered themselves in glory last week as they both suffered defeat in the ERCC. It was a terrible week for anyone betting on the European Rugby Championship as the first-placed team in the French Top 14 lost at home to the Harlequins. Racing 92 had a wobble in the middle of the first half but recovered to only go 14-17 down at the break. They dominated the first 20 minutes of the second period before a disastrous ten minutes saw the game slip away. With 70 minutes on the clock, the score was 28-31 after both sides scored 14 points a piece in the early exchanges. But the French side could not get another point, and the Harlequins picked up a surprise win on the road.
In the match between Bath and Ulster, it took nearly half an hour for a single point to register on the board. Cokanasiga got the first score after 28 minutes, but the visitors responded strongly with two tries and conversions before the halftime whistle. The second half was a completely one-sided affair, with Bath scoring 29 points compared to Ulster’s zero. The only contribution made by the Northern Irish in the second half was a yellow card to Matthew Rea 66 minutes into the game. With a man down, the floodgates opened, and Bath convincingly won at home.
Ulster Rugby vs Racing 92 Predictions
We often say to our loyal readers that predicting a rugby union match is difficult. However, betting on this European Rugby Champions Cup fixture is even more troublesome than usual. Usually, in rugby betting, there is a clear favourite and an underdog. Rarely is a contest level at a bookmaker, as there is usually some difference between the clubs.
This week, the online betting websites have the teams close to even. That means a wager will return almost as much as your stake. Ulster is the marginal favourite at the bookmaker with odds of 10/11. Placing a ten-euro bet on this market will return €19.09, which is just over nine euros in profit. Betting on Racing 92 to win this weekend has odds at 1/1. That means they will return whatever you stake. Betting €100 will give you your stake back, plus €100 in profit. A draw is always unlikely in rugby union matches, and that is worth 20/1 this Saturday.
Our prediction this week favours the home side, who will win by seven points or fewer. While Ulster lost their last league game when they hosted Edinburgh in the URC, we predict the Northern Irish side will come out on top on Saturday. Racing 92 might be at the top of the French Top 14 rugby union league, but they are no longer in winning form. Their last league match was an away defeat to Clermont in a game that got away from the visitors. They also lost in the ERCC, a home match against the Harlequins.
We predict the sides will make for an entertaining match when they square off at the weekend. There is a lot of talk around Dan McFarland, with fans growing impatient with the lack of convincing Ulster performances. Having already lost three on the bounce, the pressure is on to get a result. The French side, Racing 92, has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, winning six of their opening nine games. But, the concerns are mounting after a home defeat in week one of the ERCC. If they deliver an intense performance in Northern Ireland, has Ulster got the bottle to respond?
Ulster Rugby vs Racing 92 Betting Tips
Betting on Ulster seems like the best move this week, but there are several aspects to consider. For starters, Ulster is on a losing streak, so betting on that to end this weekend could be a tad foolish. If Racing 92 were heading into this game victorious in week one of the ERCC, our decision would be more straightforward. Unfortunately, that is not the case. This match has many people on the fence, as both sides underperformed last weekend. But, out of the two clubs, Ulster fans will be the more concerned, even though the game is at home.
This week, you could bet either way, as the teams have incredibly similar returns. Whether you choose to follow our prediction or bet against the side from Belfast, there are plenty of rewarding wagers out there. The online betting platforms in Ireland offer new players a welcome bonus when they sign up. This fixture is the perfect excuse to use a bonus, as you can bet on different markets. To get better returns, look at the winning margin market. Ulster, to win by one to seven points, has odds of 14/5, much higher than the match result.
European rugby is back at Kingspan Stadium…
🎟️ https://t.co/CoL1BLsPgk pic.twitter.com/8sP5Yh6QZH
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 12, 2023
Anyone looking to make live wagers this weekend needs to be mindful of a few factors. Both Ulster and Racing 92 have gone down to 14 men several times in the most recent games. Ill-discipline could strike and cost one of these sides a must-win fixture. Plus, given the poor performances by Ulster this season, the fans could be right on the team’s back this weekend. They could help cheer them over the line or compound the pressure if someone makes a mistake. When placing live bets, keep an open mind, as anything could happen.
Betting on rugby union matches is exciting, and this week could be the most enjoyable all season. We predict Ulster will edge it over the French side, but either team has an equal chance to win this weekend. Remember, this is a difficult fixture to forecast, so do not bet more than you can afford to lose.
Ulster Rugby Team News and Lineup
When it rains, it pours, or at least that’s how it feels for Ulster head coach Dan McFarland. Fly-half Billy Burns is looking like he will miss the game against Racing 92 after picking up an elbow injury against Bath. Plus, Ben Moxham is out for nine months with an ACL tear against Edinburgh. Seven other senior players are also unavailable for selection. Ben Carson, Angus Curtis, Callum Reid, David McCann, James McCormick, Sean Reffell, and Ethan McIlroy are yet to return from injury. However, Marcus Rea, Will Addison, and Luke Marshall returned to full training.
- Ulster Predicted Lineup: S. Kitshoff, T. Stewart, T. O’Toole, A. O’Connor, K. Treadwell, M. Rea, N. Timoney, J. McNabney, N. Doak, W. Addison, J. Stockdale, L. Marshall, J. Hume, R. Baloucoune, and S. Moore.
Racing 92 Team News and Lineup
This week, Henry Arundell signed a contract extension with the French club to keep him in Paris until 2026. Other players to commit to the club include Arthur Espeut, Max Spring, and Antoine Gibert. Arundell and Spring are young and promising fullbacks, both under 23 years of age. Espeut is a 20-year-old centre, and Gibert has already looked promising this year as the number ten. Unfortunately, John Willgriff, who signed a short-term deal as cover from the World Cup, has left the club.
- Racing 92 Predicted Lineup: G. Gogichashvili, J. Tarrit, T. Laclayat, C. Woki, B. Palu, I. Diallo, S. Kolisi, W. Lauret, N. Le Garrec, A. Gibert, J. Imhoff, F. Saili, G. Fickou, V. Habosi, and H. Arundell.
