Rugby
Bulls vs Cardiff Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium Kickoff Time: 15:00 (UK Time) These two teams are both vying for crucial points in the United Rugby Championship. The Bulls welcome Cardiff to Loftus, but they will know they are in for a tough encounter. For fans looking to place their bets, we suggest checking out your favourite rugby betting sites for the latest rugby betting offers and options.
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Devon Williams of the Vodacom Bulls in action//Getty Images
The Bulls are currently in third place and will be confident of solidifying their playoff position here. Cardiff is in sixth but is still in a position to climb the table and even secure a home playoff spot if other results go their way. This will be a fixture with absolutely no love lost between these two teams.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Online betting sites in South Africa seem to think the Bulls will win this encounter at a canter, but you would be silly to count out the visitors.
- Bulls: 1/4 (1.25) – 80%
- Cardiff: 7/2 (4.50) – 18%
Head-To-Head Record
Last three meetings
10/11/2023: Cardiff 12–18 Bulls
03/12/2022: Bulls 45-09 Cardiff
09/10/2021: Cardiff 19–29 Bulls
Bulls Current Form – WLWWL
The men from Pretoria have insistently shown resilience and grit in their more recent matches. They have secured victories over top-rated teams and put themselves in a brilliant position for the knockout stage of this tournament.
Their attacking threat is enhanced only by their ability to defend with discipline and structure when it matters.
It should come as no surprise that given the fact that they are playing at home, they will look to impose themselves earlier on and use their home ground advantage relentlessly.
Key Players to Watch
- Johan Goosen: He has been instrumental to their more recent success and leads their charge from the number ten position with absolute class. He is a master at organizing their shape and discipline and so we expect him to be at the forefront of their attack.
- Marcell Coetzee: His leadership and experience continue to provide stability and motivation for this Blue Bulls team. He is a warrior on the rugby field and the Loftus faithful will be looking for a big performance from him at this stage of their season.
- Canan Moodie: The young winger continues to impress those associated with South African rugby as well as at the Bulls. His speed and agility make him such a difficult player to mark and track, while his constant threat on the flank often sees him racking up the points for his side.
Cardiff Current Form – LWWDL
Cardiff have had a mixed run of late, and while they have notched up some incredible victories – they have also suffered some concerning defeats. There is no question they are a team capable of challenging for top honors in this tournament, but their inconsistent performances will always hurt them.
A win against the Bulls here will naturally play a big role in gaining them some much-needed confidence and presenting them with a significant boost to their playoff hopes.
Key Players to Watch
- Liam Belcher: His leadership and consistency have been impressive this season, but he is a forward with incredible ability. As a hooker, his mobility and movement add an edge to his game and his set piece quality allows his side to drive forward. Keep an eye on him here.
- Ben Thomas: A versatile player with the ability to adapt his game on a dime. He is a player capable of creating opportunities for Cardiff and he will be crucial for their attacking threats. His physicality and aggression will be vital against this Bulls side.
- Rey Lee-Lo: He is a center who will inevitably bring stability and creativity to the Cardiff midfield and often has very little issues breaking defensive lines and seeing his side get higher up the pitch.
Suggested Bets
Total Points (Over 45.5): Both teams continue to show offensive abilities and so we think backing a relatively high-scoring affair will suit here. 10/11 (1.91) with Betway.
Bulls (-11.5): The Bulls should have too much for this Cardiff side, especially playing at home. Back them to claim a big victory and overcome the advertised handicap. 8/11 (1.73) with Hollywoodbets.
Value Bets
First Try Scorer (Canan Moodie): He is an electric winger with an incredible ability, and he is a strong candidate to open the scoring here. Take advantage of that with the generous odds available. 5/2 (3.5) with Supabets.
Bulls-7.5 (Halftime): Back the Bulls to go into the half well ahead of their European opponents. 1/1 (2.0) with 10Bet.
Prediction: Bulls to Win
This is another game which almost picks itself this weekend. The Bulls are playing at home, their current form is one which is incredibly impressive and their historical success against Cardiff suggests that they run away with this victory.
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A quirky writer with an engaging tone, Ryan Liberty has seen his work published on many of South Africa’s sport’s publications. Ryan has a great passion for everything in the sporting world, from darts to football, motorsport and everything in between. His conversational flair allows him to bring diverse sporting topics to both the avid sports fan as well as the relaxed reader.