The DHL Stormers have made a significant comeback in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, climbing to ninth place and putting themselves in contention for the playoffs. All four South African teams are well-positioned in the standings.
The DHL Stormers have surged back into contention for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs, while the other South Africa n teams are also well-placed. Two home bonus-point victories against the Lions and Sharks over the festive season have propelled the Cape side from 13th to ninth on the log, just one point behind eighth-placed Ulster.
This marks the first time this season that the injury-stricken Stormers have won consecutive matches, coinciding with the return of several Springboks, including two-time world cup-winning prop Frans Malherbe. Sharks coach John Plumtree expressed disappointment at surrendering a three-point lead with three minutes remaining at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. However, considering their injury challenges, he will likely be satisfied with accumulating five log points from their last two matches, placing them fifth on the table, one point behind the Vodacom Bulls who have a game in hand. The Bulls remain third in the standings despite losing to the Sharks in Durban and having a bye last week. While they trail unbeaten Leinster by 18 points and defending champions Glasgow by eight points (who suffered a defeat in Edinburgh on Saturday), they hold two games in hand over both sides. A top-two finish, securing a home semi-final if they advance that far, remains a realistic target for Jake White's team. The Lions have dropped from fifth to 11th on the log over the past two weeks but also possess a game or two in hand over several teams above them. A home quarter-final remains a plausible objective for the Pride when the South African teams resume URC duties on January 25. The Lions host the Bulls in a Jukskei derby in round 10, with the Stormers and Sharks facing Leinster and Cardiff respectively, in tour fixtures
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