By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Suresh Rajcoomar /Fullview.
All three South African teams will go in search of crucial victories in what promises to be a thrilling penultimate pool round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) this weekend.
The DHL Stormers, Fidelity Securedrive Lions and Vodacom Bulls are still in the running to host quarter-finals when the playoffs start.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks, who are out of playoff contention, meanwhile, will look to give their supporters something to smile about in Durban after a challenging two-week tour.
With only seven points separating the teams from fifth to ninth places, and eight of the nine teams in playoff contention playing each other this weekend, there will be no room for error.
The action will get underway on Friday night with log-leaders, Stormers, taking on the eighth-placed Ulster in Belfast.
Three fixtures will play out on Saturday – the seventh-placed Vodacom Bulls host last-placed Zebre Parma in Pretoria; the Sharks (10th) take on Benetton (13th) in Durban; and the third-placed Lions are up against fourth-placed Leinster in Dublin, what can be regarded as the match of the weekend.
While a victory for the Stormers (56 points) will go a long way in their quest to enter the final pool round in pole position, the Lions, who sit level on 53 log points with Investec Champions Cup finalists Leinster, will face one of the toughest tests of the campaign as they look to keep their home quarter-final hopes alive.
The Bulls (49 points), in turn, who trail Leinster by only four points, will look to capitalise on their home ground advantage at Loftus Versfeld against Zebre Parma in their bid to break into the home quarter-final positions.
The Stormers will be well aware of the fact that a slip-up against Ulster at the Affidea Stadium could see them tumble down the table, as only three log points separate them from Leinster. Piling more pressure on the Capetonians, Ulster will be high on confidence after booking their place in the EPCR Challenge Cup final last week.
With a favourable attacking and far superior defensive record to the hosts, adding to the Stormers’ desperation to finish the pool stages as the top-ranked team, they will back themselves to build on their impressive showing against the Glasgow Warriors in their last outing.
John Dobson’s side will also be mindful of the fact that although Ulster have won five of their seven Vodacom URC matches so far, they suffered disappointing defeats in their last two home games, which they will want to make up for after a valuable home victory in the EPCR Challenge Cup against the Exeter Chiefs last week. All this paves the way for an epic battle.
URC fixtures:
Friday
- Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff at the Scotstoun Stadium – Kick-off 8:45pm
- Ulster v Stormers at the Affidea Stadium – Kick-off 8:45pm
Saturday
- Bulls v Zebre at Loftus Versfeld – Kick-off 1:45pm
- Sharks v Benetton at Kings Park – Kick-off 4pm
- Ospreys v Scarlets at the Electric Brewery Field – Kick-off 6:30pm
- Leinster v Lions at the Aviva Stadium – Kick-off 6:30pm
- Dragons v Edinburgh at Rodney Parade – Kick-off 8:45pm
- Connacht v Munster at the Sportsground – Kick-off 8:4.5pm.
If things go well, there’s a decent chance three South African URC sides will dominate the top four places on the log come the end of the competition’s pool stage in two weeks’ time.