By Samukelo “Sports Mjita” Gambushe
With just three rounds left in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship pool stages, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the South African teams still in the hunt for quarter-final spots—or improved log standings.
The Vodacom Bulls (currently third with 54 points) and Hollywoodbets Sharks (fourth with 49 points) will be going all-out to secure top-four finishes and the advantage of hosting their quarter-final fixtures. Meanwhile, the DHL Stormers (eighth with 40 points) are clinging to their playoff hopes and may need to win all their remaining matches to stay in the mix.
As for the Emirates Lions, the pressure is on. They’ll need nothing short of a victory to keep their faint playoff aspirations alive after enduring a five-match losing streak.
The action kicks off on Friday with the Bulls heading to Glasgow for a rematch of last season’s Grand Final—this time on Scottish soil. Saturday promises a thrilling lineup: the Lions host Connacht in Johannesburg, the Stormers face Benetton in Cape Town, and the Sharks take on Ulster in Belfast.
The Bulls vs. Glasgow Warriors clash is shaping up to be a blockbuster. The sides are evenly matched with 11 wins each from 15 games, and only four points separate them on the log. A bonus-point win for the Bulls—while denying the Warriors any points—could see them leap into second place.
Fueling the Bulls’ fire is the bitter memory of their narrow 21-16 loss to the Warriors in last year’s final. Fresh off a gutsy 16-13 win over Munster in Limerick and riding a hot streak of five wins from their last six games, the Pretoria outfit will be gunning for redemption.
Over in Johannesburg, the Lions know the stakes all too well. Another loss could officially rule them out of the playoff race. They’ll face a confident Connacht side that pushed the Stormers to the brink last weekend. Despite sitting two places higher on the log, Connacht have one less win than the Lions—though they’ve outscored the Johannesburg side by 42 points this season. That said, the Lions boast a stronger defensive record, having conceded 30 fewer points, and will need to bring their A-game.
Down in the Cape, the Stormers host fifth-placed Benetton in what amounts to a must-win encounter. The home side has a solid record at the DHL Stadium this season, with two narrow losses and four wins. But Benetton, fresh off a convincing 42-31 victory over the Lions, have proven they can win on the road, and will pose a tough challenge.
The numbers suggest a close contest: the Stormers have a slight edge in attack, while Benetton have been tighter in defense. Expect fireworks.
Meanwhile, the Sharks will look to build on last week’s nail-biting 18-17 win over Edinburgh. Despite playing away, they’ll be confident heading into their clash with Ulster, who sit lower on the log and have lost three home matches already this season. The Sharks, with a marginally superior attack and defense, will be determined to continue their momentum and push for a top-four finish.
With so much on the line across the board, it’s set to be a defining weekend in the URC.
