State of the URC: Leinster at Loftus, Stormers at Scarlets
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The Bulls and Sharks man the ramparts against foreign threats in the Vodacom URC this week, while the Lions and Stormers prepare to invade Europe.
With the Six Nations done and dusted, all eyes are on the URC with six rounds of the league stage remaining and just one of the 16 teams out of playoff contention. The Bulls and Sharks are pushing for a top-two finish, and a potential home semi-final, while the Lions and Stormers just want to make the top eight.
The BULLS missed the chance to leapfrog Glasgow into second place when losing 19-16 to the Stormers in difficult conditions at Loftus two weeks ago. Next up at home are unbeaten Leinster, who are expected to rest their Ireland players for a two-match tour of South Africa that also includes a trip to Durban.
When Leinster brought a weakened squad to the Republic in April 2023, the Bulls handed them their worst-ever defeat (62-7) in the 24-year history of the competition (highlights below). But Jake White’s team have defeated their very best outfit, too, 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 should back themselves to end Leinster’s 12-match winning streak in the competition.
URC PLAYOFFS: Consistency key for Bulls
Having added the SA Shield to a growing trophy collection that includes the Challenge Cup and Currie Cup, the SHARKS‘ focus shifts to the bigger goal of winning a maiden URC title.
The five log points picked up from a 25-22 win against the Lions at Kings Park got them to within two of the Bulls, and they’ll be targeting a similar haul against Zebre at Kings Park on Saturday.
The Italian club is 15th on the log but just four points outside the playoffs and have won five matches this season, including the scalp of Munster. In other words, the Sharks shouldn’t underestimate them, especially having slipped up against the other Italian club in the competition (Benetton) early in the season.
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The LIONS hammered the Sharks at Ellis Park and had their chances to make it a double in Durban. In the end, they took six log points from the two encounters which moved them up to eighth.
Next up for Cash van Rooyen’s team is a two-match tour, featuring sixth-placed Cardiff and second-placed defending champions Glasgow, with success more likely to come in the first encounter.
The Lions beat Cardiff 34-13 in Joburg last season and 31-18 at the Arms Park in 2022, so self-belief shouldn’t be a problem here.
URC PLAYOFFS: Tough tour to test tenacious Lions
The STORMERS boosted their playoff hopes with a gutsy victory at Loftus that ended a three-match losing streak in the URC.
John Dobson’s men are currently 12th on the log, just one point behind the Lions, while an inferior points difference puts them below the Ospreys and Scarlets, their opponents in Llanelli on Saturday.
The Stormers are expecting to receive reinforcements from the injury list while Scarlets are vulnerable, having lost their last two matches in the tournament and three of their last five.
The Cape franchise will also take heart from the fact they have won all three of their URC encounters against the Welsh club, including a 26-21 victory at Parc y Scarlets in the inaugural season.
The last time the teams met, at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, the hosts romped to an eight try, 52-7 win.
URC PLAYOFFS: Stormers must hit a home run
Round 13 fixtures:
21 March
Cardiff vs Lions (9.35pm)
Glasgow vs Munster (9.35pm)
22 March
Sharks vs Zebre (2.45pm)
Benetton vs Edinburgh (5pm)
Bulls vs Leinster (5pm)
Scarlets vs Stormers (5pm)
Dragons vs Ulster (7.15pm)
Ospreys vs Connacht (7.15pm)
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
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