Fresh from finishing qualification for European Cup competitions, the South African teams have shifted their focus again to the URC because the race for the playoffs heats up.
WIN | A VIP Trip to the URC Grand Final, 27 May 2023
The 4 South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams will resume their duties within the competitors with a spring of their step this weekend after qualifying for the playoff rounds of the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge final weekend in a rewarding final result for the home franchises.
The URC enters Round 13 on Friday the place the teams can have yet one more spherical of playoffs at the back of their minds as there are solely six rounds of pool matches remaining within the competitors together with this week’s fixtures.
ALSO READ: South African teams deserve their spot on the Champions Cup desk
South African teams in motion within the URC this weekend:
The Bulls and Stormers will kick off the motion on Friday evening with the Pretoria aspect going up towards the Scarlets in Llanelli and the Capetonians taking over Ulster in Belfast.
The different two home franchises will take the sector on Saturday evening, with Edinburgh internet hosting the Sharks in Scotland and Connacht assembly the Lions in Galway.
The Bulls, who’re presently in third place on the log behind Leinster and the Stormers with 39 factors, will look to kick on from their victory towards the Dragons away of their final outing, and the truth that the Scarlets have gained solely three of their 12 matches this season will enhance their confidence.
The guests, nevertheless, shall be cautious of the truth that two of the house aspect’s three victories had been in Llanelli, whereas in addition they registered a draw on their house patch within the opening match of the competitors. Adding to this the Scarlets come off a morale-boosting away win of their final URC outing towards Cardiff.
The Bulls have been more practical on assault and defence, and they’re going to have the additional motivation of staying forward of Ulster and Glasgow on the standings, who’ve the posh of a recreation in hand.
ALSO READ: URC coaches say South African teams elevated competitors energy
The Stormers will face a tricky check towards Ulster on the Kingspan Stadium the place a victory can be vital to permit them some respiration house within the high two on the log because the event nears the knock-out phases. The Cape aspect path log-leaders Leinster by 11 factors, whereas they maintain a slim six-point lead over the Bulls.
The guests have been marginally higher on assault, scoring 9 extra factors, however they may look to make the most of their robust defence, which has positioned them within the high three defensive sides.
Interestingly, Ulster have misplaced three of their final 4 league matches and suffered defeats of their final two matches towards the Stormers, nevertheless, the Capetonians have solely gained certainly one of their final 4 away video games.
ALSO READ: Festive “summer rugby” an enormous success for South African teams
The ninth-placed Sharks can have their sights on displacing Edinburgh within the high eight on the desk on Saturday to work their method right into a beneficial place for a spot within the high eight within the subsequent few weeks, particularly with the staff trailing the Scottish aspect by just one log level regardless of having two matches in hand.
Edinburgh, who beat the Sharks in Durban when these sides met for the primary time final season, have scored 37 extra factors of their 12 matches this season, however the Durbanites have gained extra match, which they may draw confidence from.
They may also be determined to bounce again from their final defeat towards Connacht within the URC and Harlequins within the Champions Cup in two of their final three matches.
