As the Six Nations concludes, the focus shifts to the Vodacom URC, where South African teams are vying for playoff spots. The Bulls and Sharks aim for a top-two finish, while the Lions and Stormers seek a place in the top eight.
The Bulls and Sharks are gearing up for crucial matches in the Vodacom URC this week, while the Lions and Stormers prepare to embark on European tours. With the Six Nations concluded, all attention is focused on the URC , which has six rounds of the league stage remaining. Only one of the 16 teams is out of playoff contention, intensifying the competition.
The Bulls and Sharks are vying for a top-two finish, aiming for a potential home semi-final, while the Lions and Stormers are striving to secure a spot in the top eight.The Bulls missed an opportunity to overtake Glasgow for second place after a 19-16 loss to the Stormers two weeks ago at Loftus in challenging conditions. Next up at home is undefeated Leinster, who are anticipated to rest their Irish players for a two-match tour of South Africa, including a trip to Durban. When Leinster brought a weakened squad to the Republic in April 2023, the Bulls delivered their worst-ever defeat (62-7) in the 24-year history of the competition. However, Jake White's team has also defeated Leinster's strongest lineup, most recently in last season's Loftus semi-final (25-20). With star No 8 Cameron Hanekom set to return from injury this week, the Bulls are confident in their ability to end Leinster's 12-match winning streak in the competition.The Sharks, meanwhile, secured five log points from a 25-22 victory against the Lions at Kings Park, bringing them within two points of the Bulls. They will target a similar outcome against Zebre at Kings Park on Saturday. The Italian club, currently 15th on the log, is just four points outside the playoffs and has won five matches this season, including a notable victory over Munster. The Sharks cannot afford to underestimate Zebre, especially after a slip-up against their fellow Italian team, Benetton, earlier in the season. The Lions, on the other hand, hammered the Sharks at Ellis Park and had opportunities to achieve a double in Durban. Ultimately, they secured six log points from the two encounters, propelling them to eighth place. Cash van Rooyen's team will now embark on a two-match tour, facing sixth-placed Cardiff and second-placed defending champions Glasgow. Success is more likely to come in the first encounter. The Lions defeated Cardiff 34-13 in Johannesburg last season and 31-18 at the Arms Park in 2022, suggesting they have a strong belief in achieving victory. The Stormers, meanwhile, boosted their playoff hopes with a resilient victory at Loftus, ending a three-match losing streak in the URC. John Dobson's team is currently 12th on the log, just one point behind the Lions, although an inferior points difference places them below the Ospreys and Scarlets, their opponents in Llanelli on Saturday. The Stormers anticipate reinforcements from the injury list, while Scarlets are vulnerable, having lost their last two matches in the tournament and three of their last five
URC Bulls Sharks Lions Stormers Leinster Zebre Cardiff Glasgow Playoffs
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