Two South African sides, two very different match-ups — and one accumulator that makes a lot of sense. The Stormers are evenly priced with Bayonne at 1.91, and the Bulls sit at 1.63 against the defending champions Bordeaux. Together, these bets make for a good value accumulator.
Rugby betting guide for beginners
Bulls to beat Bordeaux (1.63)
There’s something very deliberate about the Bulls this week.
Johan Ackermann is demanding one fast start to the Champions Cup by selecting the most Springbok-loaded Bulls squad ever named for Europe, with 13 Boks in the 23 and a bench that borders on unfair.
You don’t often see the starting Bok front row from a 73–0 Test win sitting on the bench for a club game, but that’s the luxury Ackermann has with Steenekamp, Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw. Add Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw and Embrose Papier, and the Bulls’ second half becomes a controlled demolition.
Handré Pollard back at Loftus in Champions Cup colours is a story in itself. The last time these sides met in Pretoria the Bulls won a 46–40 carnival of tries, with the difference coming from the boot. Pollard swings that contest even further towards the home side.
The champions won’t enjoy being bullied, but the Bulls have too much power, too much pedigree, too much weaponry for them not to take this one.
This is the banker.
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Stormers to edge Bayonne (1.91)
The Stormers have gone to Bayonne for their Champions Cup opener without their headline Boks, but don’t mistake rotation for resignation. Dobbo knows exactly what he’s doing. The Stormers travel better than almost any URC side, and Bayonne’s only home defeat last season in this competition came against South African opposition.
They understand the Basque grind. They understand the physicality. And even without Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and Cobus Reinach, the Stormers still play with a clarity Bayonne struggle to disrupt.
BJ Dixon’s inclusion gives them Bok-level presence at the breakdown, their defensive pattern is as well-drilled as any in Europe, and they have the discipline to strangle momentum away from home. This won’t be pretty, but it doesn’t need to be. At 1.91, you’re backing a team that knows how to win on the road, even when understrength.
One side should win with dominance. The other should win with intelligence. Either way, both should win.
Related: Bulls back Boks to bully Bordeaux
The acca:
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Bulls to win – 1.63
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Stormers to win – 1.91
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Total: 3.21
Back South Africa’s travellers. Back the physicality. Back the pedigree.
This is a weekend to cash in
Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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