Leinster vs Lions Predictions - Leinster expected to maintain home dominance in URC quarter-final clash

Nigel Williams

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Last updated: 47 seconds ago

Nigel Williams 47 seconds ago

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Leinster are unbeaten in their last 10 home matches and beat the Lions 4 out of 5 times.
Leinster tipped to cover the -15.5 handicap due to superior form and key player returns.
Lions have only one win in their last 6 away games and face injury challenges.

Leinster expected to maintain home dominance in URC quarter-final clash (Getty Images)

Leinster vs Lions Predictions

Leinster are favourites, given their dominant home form and strong recent record against the Lions. My best bet is Leinster to cover the -15.5 handicap at home.

Leinster have won their last 7 home matches.
Leinster have won 4 of the 5 matches against the Lions.
Leinster beat the Ospreys 68-14 in their last home match.
Lions have won 1 of their last 6 away matches.
Lions lost 24-21 to Cardiff Rugby last weekend.

Head to Head

Leinster have won four of the five meetings against the Lions. Leinster beat the Lions 31-7 at home earlier this month.

Leinster Form

Leinster crushed the Ospreys 68-14 in their final URC regular-season match at the Aviva Stadium.

Leinster are unbeaten at home in the last 10 matches across all competitions. Recent results include wins over Ulster (28-20), Scarlets (36-19), Edinburgh (49-31), Sale (43-13), Toulon (29-25) and the Lions (31-7).

Leinster finished second in the United Rugby Championship, with 63 points from 18 matches.

Leinster will back themselves in this quarter-final, given their strong home form.

Leinster Injuries & Team News

Leo Cullen will be tasked with rallying his troops this week as they look to respond to their disappointing Champions Cup final defeat.

Winger Joshua Kenny and lock Brian Deeny are both available after missing the Champions Cup Final.

Loosehead prop Paddy McCarthy is out for the remainder of the season after he picked up a foot injury in the Champions Cup final.

Lions Form

The Lions earned a crucial bonus point in the 24-17 defeat to Munster, which secured seventh place in a historic first-ever URC play-off appearance.

The Lions have struggled on the road this season. They lost to the Stormers (34-27), beat the Sharks (23-22), drew against Perpignan (20-20) and the Ospreys (24-24), and lost to Leinster (31-7).

The Lions finished seventh in the United Rugby Championship, with 54 points from 18 matches.

Lions Injuries & Team News

Captain Francke Horn, centre Henco van Wyk and fullback Quan Horn are all in training and in a race against time to prove their fitness ahead of this match.

Springboks sidelined for an extended period include loose forward Ruan Venter (knee injury), scrumhalf Morne van den Berg (bicep tear) and prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye (doping ban).

Verdict

Leinster v Lions

Leinster are tipped to cover the -15.5 handicap at home, given their dominant home form and strong recent record against the Lions.

Leinster -15.5

Handicap

@1.10 - 3 Units

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