Crunch time in URC
Pressure mounts on South African franchises as competition reaches fourth-last pool round
The South African franchises will be under immense pressure to bounce back strongly from disappointing results in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) last week — apart from the Lions — as the competition reaches the fourth-last pool round and the scramble for quarter-final spots reaches boiling point.
Only nine points separate the third-placed Munster and 11th placed Lions — one of four teams currently tied on 39 points along with Edinburgh, Connacht and Ulster.
Fortunately for the Bulls and Lions, all their remaining matches are in South Africa, which will give them a mental boost as they stake their playoff claims.
However, the sixth-placed Stormers will have their work cut out to finish in the top eight, as they still have a tour lined up to Wales and Ireland, while they are currently tied on 40 points with the seventh-placed Ospreys — only one above the chasing pack on 39 points.
The Sharks — who will be playing purely for pride after having their quarter-final hopes dashed — will again lead the charge for the domestic franchises when they face the Scarlets in Llanelli today, while tomorrow will
be jam-packed for SA’s rugby faithful as the Bulls host Ospreys in Pretoria, the Lions welcome defending champions Munster to Johannesburg, and the Stormers take on log-leaders Leinster in Cape Town.
The Sharks will target a victory against Scarlets — who trail them by two points on the table — to bounce back from their disappointing defeat against Glasgow. They will draw inspiration from their attacking display, which saw them apply good pressure on the hosts, although a big talking point in the camp this week will be to improve their finishing as that cost them dearly last week.
Both teams have registered only three victories this season, but the Sharks boast a better attack and defence, and they will be mindful of the fact that if they replicate the pressure they created on attack last week and round off their chances, it could count in their favour as the Scarlets defence has been their weakness this season with 479 points conceded in their 14 outings to date.
The Durbanites, who have reshuffled their side, will also give everything to finish their tour on a high and build good momentum before their EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final next weekend, followed by three home games after this round.
The Bulls will be wary of Ospreys when they take the field at Loftus Versfeld, especially after the Welsh outfit surprised the DHL Stormers with a 27-21 victory in Cape Town last week. But they will be hellbent to make up for their first home defeat of the season last week, which saw them drop to fourth place on the table — eight points behind Leinster, seven behind Glasgow and two behind Munster.
However, with Munster facing the Lions and Leinster taking on the
Stormers in South Africa, the Bulls will be hoping that their domestic counterparts do them a favour as they continue to hunt a spot in the top two for a home quarter-final and possibly a home semi-final.
The match could prove to be a humdinger though, as the Pretoria outfit have only won one more match than Ospreys, and although they boast a superior attack with 456 points scored to Ospreys’ 317, the visitors’ defence has been more effective conceding 41 points fewer.
SHARKS TEAM
1. Ox Nche, 2. Fez Mbatha, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Emile van Heerden 6. Phepsi Buthelezi,
7. Lappies Labuschagne, 8. Vincent Tshituka, 9. Grant Williams, 10. Siya Masuku, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 12. Ethan Hooker, 13. Lukhanyo Am (capt), 14. Werner Kok, 15. Aphelele Fassi. Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Hanro Jacobs,
19. Corne Rahl, 20. Gerbrandt Grobler, 21. Jaden Hendrikse, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Francois Venter.
SA TEAM FIXTURES Today
Scarlets v Sharks at 8.35 pm Tomorrow
Bulls v Ospreys at 3 pm
Lions v Munster at 5 pm Stormers v Leinster at 7.05 pm.