Ulster & Leinster Remain Favorites for 2020-21 Season
Due to the truncated 20190-20 season, this year’s Pro14 season got off to a late start on 2 October. Despite the sudden changes to last year’s schedule, Leinster took home the championship title after a victory over Ulster.
Anyone following the Pro14 league knows the odds were in Leinster’s favor, given it was their third consecutive title win. And though Ulster may be the fan-favorite, they’ll need to overcome Leinster when it counts most to redeem their 27-5 loss in last year’s final.
At the moment, Ulster is only two points behind their rivals in Conference A. As season play progresses toward Round 8, stadiums will remain empty, which means fans can back Ulster by wagering with a company like Unibet Sportsbooks or managing their own Ulster roster in the Guinness PRO14 Fantasy Rugby.
Those looking to place online bets may be tempted to back Leinster or Ulster, but the possibility for an upset in the semifinals this year is strong.
Power Struggle in Conference A
Though teams compete across conferences, all eyes are on Leinster and Ulster to battle it out for dominance of Conference A. Last year saw Ulster take out Edinburgh 22-19 in the semifinals, while Leinster battled against Munster before coming away with a 13-3 win.
The semi-finals led to an unsurprising faceoff between Ulster and Leinster, with the odds in Leinster’s favor. This year, the Pro14 league is likely to see another battle royale between its top talents—but what does Ulster need to do to stop the record-breaking momentum of Leinster?
Of the top 50 players ranked in Ireland, ten compete for Ulster. The list includes names like Jacob Stockdale, Marcell Coetzee, captain Iain Henderson, John Cooney, and Stuart McCloskey to name half.
Still, the vast majority of the Belfast Telegraph’s 50 top players are currently on a Leinster roster, which means online bets are handicapped for whoever the club is facing. With much of the league’s talent concentrated in the club, their power won’t likely shift anytime soon.
Although Ulster has steadily improved its play (despite the shaky 2015-16 season), it’s tough to compete with a roster that lists names like James Ryan (a powerhouse despite a lack of promising stats), Cian Healy, Jack Conan, and Scott Fardy.
For the All Blacks to overcome Leinster’s odds this season, they’ll need tenacity, a few more of Stockdale’s intuitive drives, and plenty of players with diverse technical skills like Coetzee.
Battle of the Up-and-Coming in Conference B
While those who follow rugby magazines and stay updated with stats may focus on Conference A, there’s plenty of possibility in Conference B. At the moment, Munster has a decisive 7-point lead over the nearest competition that will make shifting the odds out of their favor difficult. Cardiff Blues and Scarlets both trail with 10 points each.
Coming into the 2020-21 season, pundits had their eye on Edinburgh to continue their climb from the previous season’s semi final run. Though this hasn’t been the case so far, the other semifinal contenders have continued their hype.
Munster, though they bowed to Leinster, has proved their worth this season and is set to advance again to the semifinals. Those interested in placing online bets with the underdog should keep an eye on the club. With players like Keith Earls and Tadhg Beirne leading the way, the squad seems to be prepping for a rematch against Leinster.
If Munster remains at the head of Conference B, they’ll have to battle it out against Leinster again. The Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets, tied for second place in Conference B, will be jockeying for the rest of the season in hopes of advancing to the semifinals.
The Scarlets’ recent 6-3 loss to Edinburgh saw five changes since their last match, a 10-3 win over Benetton. They’ll need to keep top talent like Josh Helps on the field if they hope to overcome the Cardiff Blues.
