Rugby
Edinburgh vs Zebre Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Venue: DAM Health Stadium Kickoff Time: 19:35 (UK Time) Zebre have been the whipping boys of the URC for a while. Now, before you get to thinking that we have levelled the most despicable and outrageous attack on the Italian side, they have seemingly improved… Edinburgh remain on the cusp of achieving playoff status this season and if they do manage to pull it off, we advise keeping an eye out for the odds available by rugby betting sites as to their chances!
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Get your online betting doe early, then sit back and enjoy the game!
Home: 7/100 (1.07) – 93.5%
Draw: 44/1 (45.0) – 3%
Away: 86/10 (9.60) – 10.4%
Head-To-Head Record
Last three meetings
10/05/2024: Edinburgh 40–14 Zebre
16/02/2024: Zebre 19–24 Edinburgh
07/01/2023: Edinburgh 24–17 Zebre
Edinburgh Current Form – LWWWL
The gap between the teams within the lower half of the top eight is absolutely minimal. The reason that is vital information is rather simple; one, you cannot afford to get comfortable with your placing and you are always in the mix for a higher finish.
Granted, the hosts are contending with a few injuries as well as the inherent impact by the Six Nations, but given the confidence with which they play, the fact they are on their home patch and the recent set of results they have against Zebre – they will no doubt come into this encounter full of confidence.
Key Players to Watch
- Pierre Schoeman: Not always the most versatile prop, Schoeman certainly makes up for it with pure power. His scrumming has been a focal point for most of the season and given the reliance the hosts have on their set pieces; he will be one to watch.
- Ali Price: A scrum half often criticized for his inability to find a consistent and accurate kicking game, Price keeps the game ticking over for the hosts and as such usually ensures that small gaps in the opponents’ defensive system is exploited.
- Ross Thompson: He might currently find himself in a bit of a dog fight for consistent game time, but Thompson’s move from Glasgow Warriors to Edinburgh has seemingly been the right one for the young half back. He is a striking talent, and if he gets good game time here, he will be something to watch!
Edinburgh Team News
Ewan Ashman, Dave Cherry, Luke Crosbie, Grant Gilchrist, Patrick Harrison, D’Arcy Rae, Jamie Ritchie and Marshall Sykes have all been called up into the Scotland National side.
Zebre Current Form – LLLLW
Zebre managed to claim their third win of the season last time out when they beat Ulster 15-14! The Italian side was much improved in their last showing, playing confident rugby for the entire 80 minutes and superbly illustrating what they are capable of when they click as a unit.
Like all of the European sides in the URC, they are also affected by players being called up into the Six Nations setup, but this is also compounded by some injuries in their camp.
Interestingly, they are currently amongst the best teams in the tournament when it comes to their driving maul and so we shouldn’t be surprised to see this put to great use against Edinburgh…take note, especially for those sneaky side punts on the weekend.
Key Players to Watch
- Giovanni Montemauri: Not always praised for his creative ability in open play, Montemauri has become a player who is able to keep his nerve when it matters most and ensure that his side pocket as many points as possible from his boot.
- Bautista Stavile: A strong defensive player, not shy to put in a big shoulder every now and again and certainly unafraid to show sheer aggression when asked to maintain the integrity of his defensive line.
- Giovani Licata: A creative and zippy player isn’t always the description associated with Licata, but given his approach to offensive play this year at Zebre, they certainly aren’t far-fetched. Keep an eye on Licata, or at least where possible…
Zebre Team News
Danilo Fischetti, Luca Rizzoli, Simone Gesi, Jacopo Trulla, Matteo Canali, Muhamed Hasa and Andrea Zambonin have all been called up to the Italian side.
Suggested Bets
Our suggested bets for those who wants to bet on rugby are listed below.
Edinburgh: This is the banker of the weekend. Sing it in the valleys, shout it from the mountain tops and add it to everything! . 7/100 (1.07) with BetWinner
Edinburgh (-11.5): Back the Scottish side to claim the win and overcome the 12-point deficit. 3/10 (1.3) with Stake
1st Half Handicap (-8.5): Edinburgh to overcome a first half handicap? We think so, get on. 9/10 (1.9) with Betway
Value Bets
Edinburgh by 15+: Edinburgh will win, but let’s back them to win by 15 clear points, irrespective of the total! 43/20 (3.3) with Betway
1st Half (Odd): This is a bit of a gamble, but given Edinburgh’s aggressive approach as well as their kicking prowess, we think they shut out their opponents and so we see an odd score at the break. 43/50 (1.86) with 1xBet
Zebre + 23.5: Surely the visitors stay within the 24-point margin? We think they do, and the odds available entice us further. 9/20 (1.45) with Pinnacle
Prediction: Edinburgh
Zebre have, and continue to, improve with each passing season. Their fearless approach and commitment to their style of play is largely inspiring and fantastic for Italian rugby, but we can’t see past the hosts claiming all of the points on offer.
They are a better side in every area of the field, they have more weapons to hurt their Italian opponents with and given the real opportunity to qualify for the playoffs, they will see this as a real chance. Back the home win, use every betting opportunity available to you, free rugby bets included!
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.
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