At least one SA team guaranteed semi-final spot
THIS week is quarter-final time in the URC and the Stormers versus Bulls match in Cape Town guarantees at least one South African team in the semi-finals because few are giving the Sharks much chance of beating Leinster in another play-off.
The Irish team are hot favourites to win the URC title, which was underlined at the weekend when they demolished a star-studded Toulouse team in a Champions Cup semi-final in Dublin.
The Sharks will play Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in front of 50 000 mainly Dubliners and the challenge is all the stiffer because they have lost the services of inspirational captain Siya Kolisi.
The Springbok skipper joins Eben Etzebeth on the sidelines, as does flyhalf Curwin Bosch.
Bosch injured ribs against Munster and his likely replacement, Boeta Chamberlain can be erratic.
The Sharks will no doubt empty the tank, but to topple Leinster at home is a huge ask.
At the weekend, the world’s best player Antoine Dupont and a Toulouse team bursting with French internationals were almost powerless against the Leinster juggernaut.
Kick-off in Dublin is at 6pm and follows the quarter-final in Cape Town (3.30pm).
Cape Town Stadium will be heaving with Stormers supporters. They will be desperate to see their team replicate their URC final victory over the Bulls last year.
Coach John Dobson says it is going to be a great occasion.
“It’s going to be a great rugby occasion. Lots of people go on about records, but to have close to a full stadium for the Stormers versus Bulls will be great. There is a lot on the line.”
Dobson rested his front-line players for Western Province’s Currie Cup match against the Blue Bulls at the weekend. That game was comfortably won by Dobson’s team and although there will be different players involved in this week’s URC game, it was a psychological victory for the Capetonians.
“Our guys are tuned in for this game, make no mistake. They put in the metres earlier this week, they’ve done their freshening for four or five days and now it’s into proper Test match intensity,” he said.
The URC play-offs kick off on Friday in Belfast, where Ulster face Connacht at Kingspan Stadium, and they wrap up in Scotland, where Glasgow Warriors host Munster.
URC QUARTER-FINALS Friday: Saturday:
Stormers (3) v Bulls (6), Cape Town, 3.30pm; Leinster (1) v Sharks (8), Dublin, 6pm; Glasgow Warriors (4) v Munster (5), Glasgow, 8.35pm*