Both the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers need victories this weekend to keep their hopes of progressing to the Investec Champions Cup playoffs alive.
The Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers must rally to victory on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Investec Champions Cup playoffs this season. The Bulls are languishing in fifth place in Pool 3 after losing their opening two matches – 27-5 to Saracens in London and 30-21 to the Northampton Saints at Loftus – and failing to pick up a single bonus point.
A third defeat, to Castres at the Stade Pierre-Fabre on Saturday, would likely end their European campaign, with another home match, against Stade Francais, to come on 18 January. The Bulls dominated possession and territory against Northampton only to blow several try-scoring opportunities, and coach Jake White will want better finishing from his side in France. The Stormers are in the same situation as the Bulls, having lost their opening “home” match 24-14 to Toulon in Gqeberha, before going down 53-16 to Harlequins in London. Since then, the Cape side has welcomed back several Springboks from injury and won back-to-back matches in the Vodacom URC against the Lions and Sharks to get their season back on track. A win against the Sale Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday would maintain that momentum and breathe life into their Champions Cup playoff hopes. They are, however, unlikely to have the services of star playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who left the field in the URC match against the Sharks with a dislocated shoulder. The Sharks began their campaign with an impressive 39-21 bonus-point win against the Exeter Chiefs at Kings Park, but an understrength side was mauled 56-17 by the Leicester Tigers a week later at Welford Road. That left the Durbanites fourth in Pool 1, one point behind Leicester and five behind French clubs Toulouse and Bordeaux. Coach John Plumtree will pick his best possible team to take on six-time champions Toulouse on Saturday, with Bok hooker Bongi Mbonambi and lock Eben Etzebeth expected to be passed fi
CHAMPIONS CUP VODACOM BULLS DHL STORMERS RUGBY SOUTH AFRICA
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