The Lions and Vodacom Bulls head into another URC break on a high after impressive Highveld victories, writes LINDIZ VAN ZILLA.
The Lions beat the Stormers 24-10 at Ellis Park before the Bulls hammered the Sharks 41-12 at Loftus, which saw the Joburg-based side snatch the SA Shield away from the Durbanites.
The URC now pauses for the final two rounds of the Six Nations, resuming in full on the weekend of 20-22 March.
However, before then, the Bulls and Stormers meet at Loftus Versfeld on 14 March for a rescheduled round-eight fixture.
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With the destination of the SA Shield confirmed, it’s now all about the playoffs race.
In good news for the SA teams, the top two on the log both lost at the weekend – the Glasgow Warriors to Connacht (15-10) and Leinster to Cardiff (8-7). Glasgow (45 log points) and Leinster (41) are now closely followed by Cardiff (40) and Munster (39), who beat Zebre (21-7).
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After three consecutive derby losses, the STORMERS have plummeted from first to fifth and are level on 36 points with sixth-placed Ulster, who lost to the Ospreys over the weekend.
The Stormers returned from a three-week break eager to put back-to-back losses against the Sharks behind them. However, they ran into an inspired Lions team at Ellis Park, and coach John Dobson will hope the short break before tackling the Bulls at Loftus can help engineer a quick turnaround.
The LIONS stay seventh despite beating the Stormers, but consecutive wins over the Sharks and the former log-leaders will have done wonders for their confidence.
Ivan van Rooyen’s charges (33 log points) are within touching distance of Ulster and the Stormers above them, although they also have to keep an eye on the chasing pack, led by the Bulls (30) and Ospreys (29).
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The BULLS have now won three URC matches in a row (four across the URC and Investec Champions Cup) and are playing like a team that has rediscovered its soul.
If it wasn’t for a rare off day with the boot by Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard, Johan Ackermann’s men could have put 50 points on the Sharks at Loftus.
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The Bulls remain eighth on the log, but will need to keep their winning run going if they are to ward off the chasing pack.
The SHARKS claimed impressive back-to-back wins over the previously unbeaten Stormers, but came badly unstuck against the Lions and Bulls on the Highveld.
There are mitigating factors, such as an extensive injury list and the disruption caused by Springbok resting protocols, but JP Pietersen’s side will have to turn things around quickly if they are to revive their playoff hopes.
They sit 11th on the log with 24 points, six behind the Bulls. Adding to the challenge, the Sharks are part of a tightly packed group of sides separated by just two points, leaving little margin for error in the coming weeks.
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Round 12 results
Cardiff 8 Leinster 7
Edinburgh 24 Scarlets 19
Lions 24 Stormers 10
Bulls 41 Sharks 12
Connacht 15 Glasgow Warriors 10
Dragons 15 Benetton 15
Munster 21 Zebre 7
Ospreys 21 Ulster 10

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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