Connacht vs Sharks Predictions - Connacht backed for narrow victory in URC

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 4 hours ago

Ralph Staniforth 4 hours ago

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Sharks face challenges with player absences, sitting 13th with just one win.
Connacht has lost 3 of their last 4 matches, generally by narrow margins.
In their last head-to-head, Connacht beat Sharks by 6 points.

Sharks can challenge Connacht in URC clash (Getty Images)

Connacht vs Sharks Predictions

The Sharks have not performed well and are missing key players for international duty. However, their squad is very strong and can at least challenge Connacht on Saturday evening.

Connacht vs Sharks Predictions
Head to Head
Connacht Form
Sharks Form
Connacht vs Sharks Team News & Squads

Connacht have lost 3 of their last 4 matches.
Connacht have lost their last 3 matches by 6, 1 & 2 points.
Connacht beat the Sharks by 6 points in their last meeting.
Sharks have lost 4 of their last 5 matches.

Head to Head

Last season, Connacht beat the Sharks 36-30 at home.

Connacht Form

Connacht have had one game postponed so have only completed four matches. Of those games, they have lost three and won one. They hold 12th place on the URC title.

In the opening round, Connacht beat Benetton 26-15 at home before losing 14-8 in Cardiff. Connacht were on the losing in in round four, too as they went down 28-27 at home to the Bulls.

Last time out, Connacht suffered an agonising 17-15 loss to Munster away. What will be of some comfort is the narrow manner of all the defeats thus far.

Sharks Form

The Sharks, despite their vast array of international starts, are struggling down in 13thplace. They have just one win and a draw from five matches.

The Durban-based outfit lost 35-19 to Glasgow in round one before a disappointing 17-all draw against the Dragons in Newport. That was followed by a sound 31-5 defeat to Leinster away.

Upon their return home, the Sharks hardly showed any improvement, losing 34-26 to Ulster in Durban. To get their season back on track, the Sharks defeated Scarlets 29-19 in their final game before the international break.

Connacht vs Sharks Team News & Squads

Connacht: 15 Sean Naughton, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Hugh Gavin, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Paul Boyle (captain), 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Jordan Duggan

Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitlear, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Sam Illo, 19 David O’Connor, 20Sean O’Brien, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Bundee Aki, 23 Sam Gilbert

Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Jaden Hendriks, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 Matt Romao, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane.

Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Le Roux Malan, 23 Hakeem Kunene

Verdict

Connacht v Sharks

Neither side is in good form with just one win each this season. I am backing the Sharks to lose by less than 8.5 points.

Sharks +8.5

Handicap

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