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Sharks vs Ospreys Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction

Venue: King Park Stadium Kickoff Time: 16:00 (UK Time) The Sharks welcome Ospreys to the tank for their round 17 fixture in the URC. The hosts are currently in 4th place on the log and will be likely looking to secure a home quarter-final in the playoffs. Their visitors are 14th and desperate to climb the ladder and secure a degree of pride from these remaining fixtures. A win for the Sharks could seal their top four hopes and you can be rest assured that is exactly what John Plumtree will be expecting from his chargers. For more insights and betting options, explore rugby betting sites and take advantage of the latest rugby betting offers.​

Ryan Liberty
Ryan Liberty

Last Updated: 2025-05-05

Chad Nagel

5 minutes read

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Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree

Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree//Getty Images

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability

The Sharks are considered heavy favourites by online betting sites in South Africa.

  1. Sharks: 2/5 (1.40) – 71.4%

Head-To-Head Record

Last three meetings 

  1. 03/11/2023: Sharks 19–5 Ospreys 

  2. 02/12/2022: Sharks 25-10 Ospreys 

  3. 08/10/2021: Ospreys 27–13 Sharks

Sharks Current Form – WLWWL

The Sharks will come into this game with a heightened degree of confidence and belief. They have shown an incredible resilience in recent weeks and have put themselves in a strong position to host a home quarterfinal clash in the playoff stage. 

With four victories from their last five at Kings Park, they will be confident of playing in front of their home crowd and relish the opportunity to earn further points. Their attacking prowess, combined with a solid defense and robust discipline make them a difficult side to face, even more so in Durban.

Key Players to Watch

  • Siya Masuku: He has had to fight for a place in the starting lineup, but his contributions to the Sharks attacking threat cannot be understated. He is a consistent source of points on the field, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him earn a starting spot. 
  • Aphelele Fassi: His return from injury has been a welcomed sight for Sharks fans in recent weeks. He is an exciting player to have on the pitch, his flair in attack is matched only by his dominating ability in the air and his counter-attacking nature. He is certainly one to watch here.
  • Vincent Tshituka: An absolute powerhouse in the forward pack, Tshituka consistently brings a relentless work rate, physicality and presence to the Sharks forward pack. He has recently become available for RSA selection, and one wonders how long it will be before we see him adorn the green and gold.

Ospreys Current Form – LLDWW

The visitors come into this game with a mixed bag of results. Their last five games have seen them win on just two occasions, but their record on the road leaves a lot to be desired.

In fairness, their recent performances against the Dragons and Scarlets respectively will allow them to find some confidence, but they know they will be up against it here.

Key Players to Watch

  • George North: He is an experienced center who will offer leadership and an attacking ability to the Osprey ranks here. His composure will no doubt be a welcomed addition in Durban, especially up against a powerful Sharks attacking threat, but don’t count him or the Ospreys out too soon.
  • Justin Tipuric: Another stalwart for the visitors, Tipuric is a forward who will relish the breakdown battle here alongside the physical nature of the encounter. He will not be intimidated by the abilities the Sharks may hold and will take pride in his side’s defensive stability.
  • Rhys Webb: Webb is a scrumhalf who is often at the heart of quick decisions and incredible game management for his side. He will likely play a key role in the attacking nature of the visitors and will look to play a high-octane game of rugby here.

Suggested Bets

  1. Sharks (Win): It isn’t a selection which is likely to get you too many plaudits, but we can’t see past the home win here. They are playing a great brand of rugby and still have a strong enough incentive for the points. 2/5 (1.4) with Betway. 

  2. Over 50.5 Points: The attacking talent on the pitch leads us to think this will end in a high-scoring thriller. Back over 50.5 points at generous odds. 9/10 (1.9) with Hollywoodbets.

Value Bets

  1. Sharks to Score First and Win: They have enjoyed playing at home and are likely to get off to a blistering pace here. Back them to set an early tone and then maintain their lead and performance for the remainder of the 80 minutes. 1/1 (2.0) with Supabets.

  2. Halftime (Ospreys) Fulltime (Sharks): It is a bit of a risky bet but back the visitors to get to the break with their noses in front. 5/1 (5.0) with 10Bet.

Prediction: Sharks to Win

Their recent form is formidable, it is only heightened by the fact that they are playing at home, and we think they get a decisive victory here. The Sharks have such an incredibly balanced team between their attacking threat and defensive solidity.

Furthermore, their team is littered with Springboks, and we can’t see past the home win.

Ryan Liberty
Ryan LibertyBetting Writer

Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.