Staff Reporter.
The Cell C Sharks’ bonus point win over the Emirates Lions on Saturday has ensured that the quest to establish the teams that will square off in the Rainbow Cup final.
But while the Sharks do have a chance, the nuts and bolts would suggest there is a far more clear favourite in Rainbow Cup SA than there is in the northern stream of the competition, where there are three teams with a realistic chance of making the grand final set for Treviso on 19 June.
Whereas the Bulls just have to ensure they pick up a bonus point in the appetising South African decider in Durban this coming weekend in order to book their flight to Italy, north of the equator there are still three teams vying for a place in the final.
And with one round to go, it is now Glasgow Warriors who top the northern log following a narrow win over Leinster that finally extinguishes any hope that the pre-tournament favourites might have had of contesting the final.
But while the Warriors have replaced Benetton in pole position in Europe, the fine-print shows that they are still rank underdogs to make the final on account of the fact that they have completed their fixtures. And their lead is only a solitary point over second placed Benetton and four points ahead of Munster.
Munster, who did not play this weekend, have a vastly superior points differential in comparison to Glasgow, so they just have to win their away game against Zebre in Parma on Friday night if they want to prevail in any count-out with the Scottish team. Their fate is not in their hands, however, as even if they do give their South African coach Johan van Graan what he is looking for by thumping Zebre, Munster will then have an anxious wait until Saturday night, when Benetton visit the Ospreys.
Should Benetton win that game, and it doesn’t matter by what score, then they will have their highly coveted place in the grand final, which is to be played at their home stadium. With their coach Kieran Crowley leaving to take over the head coaching duties at Italy after this, the Benetton players will go to Wales in a supremely motivated mood.
Even a losing bonus point probably won’t be enough though for Benetton as they too suffer in comparison to Munster when it comes to points differential.
But Van Graan’s team doesn’t have its fate in its own hands like his former team, the Bulls, do in the South African section. The Bulls moved into prime position with an exciting come-from-behind last gasp win over the the Stormers. The Bulls have consistently shown their championship qualities since returning from lockdown and if they do so again at King’s Park, that will be enough for them.
Still, the Sharks have thrown a potential spanner in the works by picking up a try scoring bonus point in beating the Lions in Johannesburg. Had they not done that, Bulls coach Jake White might have been in position to rest some key players for the Durban trip in preparation for the final. Now he has to tread very carefully and he will know only too well just how dangerous the Sharks can be on their home field.
The equation though is a fairly simple one and for the Bulls the aim is a basic one too – they go to the final if they prevent the Sharks from scoring four tries, and even if they do concede four tries and lose, they still go to the final if they themselves pick up any kind of bonus point. Knowing White though they will be going all out for the win.
Weekend Results:
Northern Rainbow Cup
Glasgow Warriors 15 Leinster 12
Edinburgh 31 Ulster 34
Cardiff 37 Zebre 12
Connacht 26 Ospreys 19
Rainbow Cup SA
Bulls 31 Stormers 27
Lions 21 Sharks 33
Final fixtures in northern Rainbow Cup
Zebre v Munster (Friday, 19.00)
Leinster v Dragons (Friday, 20.15)
Ospreys v Benetton (Saturday, 19.35)
Scarlets v Edinburgh (Sunday, 13.00)
Final fixtures Rainbow Cup SA (both Saturday)
Stormers v Lions (Cape Town, 16.00)
Sharks v Bulls (Durban, 18.15).