State of the URC: SA rivals reload for red-hot derbies
Today at 11:49 PM
The DHL Stormers and Lions renew hostilities while the Vodacom Bulls and Sharks clash in another all-South African showdown when the Vodacom URC resumes this week.
The competition will kick off with a series of festive derbies in round 8, with the Stormers and Lions set to lock horns in Cape Town before the Sharks host the Bulls at Kings Park.
This after all four South African teams were in action in the Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup on Saturday. It was another tough weekend for SA teams, the Lions scoring the only victory for the local franchises across the two EPCR competitions.
The Johannesburg outfit beat their French opponents Pau 43-35 in an entertaining clash at Ellis Park, their first win in the Challenge Cup this season. The winless Cheetahs, SA's other representative in the second-tier competition, went down 26-10 in Cardiff.
In the Champions Cup, the Bulls suffered a second straight defeat with a 30-21 result against the Northampton Saints at Loftus Versfeld, before the Stormers were humbled 53-16 by Harlequins in London. The Sharks, who won their opening match at home, were outplayed in a 56-17 rout in Leicester.
Prior to a two-week pause in the URC, the Bulls and Sharks were riding on the back of impressive performances. The Herd had defeated Connacht in Galway, while John Plumtree's charges held off a determined challenge by the Stormers in Durban for victory in a thrilling coastal derby.
These results saw the Bulls complete round 7 in third place on the table with 24 points – trailing leaders Leinster by 10 – while the Sharks are in sixth position with 19 points.
The Sharks and the fifth-placed Lions are tied on log points, but the Pride have a better differential, while the Stormers are 13th.
Round 8 fixtures:
Friday, 20 December
Ulster vs Munster (9:35pm)
Saturday, 21 December
Benetton vs Zebre (3pm)
Stormers vs Lions (3:45pm)
Sharks vs Bulls (6pm)
Ospreys vs Scarlets (6:45pm)
Leinster vs Connacht (7:30pm)
Sunday, 22 December
Glasgow vs Edinburgh (5pm)
Dragons vs Cardiff (7:15pm)
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post State of the URC: SA rivals reload for red-hot derbies appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
