THE Sharks vs Zebre Prediction & Betting Tips - Challenge Cup

Prediction published on 06/04/2024, 06:45  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 07/04/2024 at 02:00 in Challenge Cup Prediction

The Round of 16 in the EPCR Challenge Cup will see the Hollywoodbets Sharks taking on Zebre at Kings Park Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Sharks, despite a challenging URC season, have shown promising form in the Challenge Cup, winning three out of four pool games to secure a top-seed qualification. With momentum from back-to-back wins, they seem determined to secure the Challenge Cup title, which will allow them to return to the Champions Cup next season. They now face an opponent that has been struggling mightily but that did secure a narrow victory in their last encounter, a 12-10 home win in October. The Sharks’ focus will be to convert dominance into points, as seen in their recent match against Edinburgh. Head coach John Plumtree has maintained consistency in the lineup, with only Vincent Koch returning after missing the last game due to illness. Unfortunately, Eben Etzebeth's absence due to a rib injury is a setback for the team.

Meanwhile, Zebre's recent form has been disappointing, with five consecutive losses and only one win in their last eight matches. Their fourth-place finish in the group stage of the Challenge Cup with two wins, two losses, and two bonus points reflects their mixed performances. In their recent defeat against the Dragons, they fell short with a score of 20-13, dropping to the bottom of the URC standings. With just 15 points in 13 games, including nine bonus points, Zebre's season has been challenging, having only secured one victory and a draw in the URC so far. Their previous matches saw defeats against Leinster, Munster, and Edinburgh, as well as a narrow loss to Pau earlier in the year. Furthermore, Zebre's away record is less than impressive, having secured only one win in their last 30 away games, which occurred against Oyonnax in December last year.