The Stormers and Vodacom Bulls will contest an Investec Champions Cup quarter-final in Cape Town if they win their last-16 matches this Saturday, writes LINDIZ VAN ZILLA.
But first the Stormers need to overcome French giants Toulon at their Stade Mayol fortress while the Bulls have to beat massive odds to defeat the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium.
Toulon are three-times winners of Europe’s elite competition, behind only Toulouse (six) and Leinster (four).
Glasgow may never have won the Champions Cup, but they top the Vodacom URC log after 14 rounds and are a formidable obstacle under the stewardship of Franco Smith.
DOBBO: Stormers going ‘full-out’ to beat Toulon
Toulon vs Stormers
The two sides have only met once before, in the opening round of the 2024-25 Champions Cup in Gqeberha, with the French outfit winning 24-14.
Stormers coach John Dobson remembers being taken aback by the speed of Toulon’s play. While his side will be better prepared this time around, it remains a massive challenge against one of the most celebrated forward packs in world rugby and a heaving, baying home crowd.
But Dobson vowed the Stormers will “give it a full go”.
The Stormers can call on the memory and experience gained from the last time they were in the south of France in December when they came away with an impressive 26-17 win over Bayonne.
MORE: Bulls to give Champions Cup ‘best shot’
Glasgow Warriors vs Bulls
Some will say the Bulls are lucky to even still be in the competition, having won only one of their pool games.
The Pretoria-based side squeaked into the playoffs via a dramatic 26-24 victory against Pau in France in their final pool match.
That win also ended a seven-match losing streak. Since then the Bulls have won five and lost only one of their last six matches to give themselves a strong chance of making the URC playoffs.
In the last five meetings between the two sides – all in the URC – Glasgow have won three and the Bulls two. One of those wins was a 26-19 victory in Glasgow in April last year.
MORE: South Africans flood the Investec Champions Cup playoffs
Investec Champions Cup round of 16 (SA times)
Friday, 3 April
Northampton Saints vs Castres (9pm)
Saturday, 4 April
Bath vs Saracens (4pm)
Toulon vs Stormers (4pm)
Glasgow Warriors vs Bulls (6:30pm)
Toulouse vs Bristol Bears (6:30pm)
Harlequins vs Sale Sharks (9pm)
Sunday, 5 April
Bordeaux Bègles vs Leicester Tigers (4pm)
Leinster vs Edinburgh (6:30pm)
PLAY: Investec Champions Cup game centre
In the second-tier EPCR Challenge Cup, the Sharks travel to Ireland to face Connacht in the last 16.
The Sharks put 50 points past Clermont at Kings Park in their last Champions Cup pool match, but it wasn’t enough as they lost out on the final qualifying spot to Saracens on points difference (+13 to -10) and dropped down to the Challenge Cup.
Connacht vs Sharks
The most recent clash between the two teams saw Connacht thrash the Sharks 44-17 in Galway in the URC in late November.
The Sharks have won only one out of their five URC encounters against the Irish outfit – in the inaugural 2021-22 season.
Since then, Connacht have won four in a row, but there have been some close games. Last season, the Sharks went down 36-30 away, having lost 13-12 at home in 2023-24.
Should the Sharks win on Saturday, they will play the winner of the Montpellier-Perpignan match.
EPCR Challenge Cup round 16 (SA times)
Friday, 3 April
Connacht vs Sharks (9pm)
Saturday, 4 April
Montpellier vs Perpignan (1:30pm)
Exeter Chiefs vs Munster (1:30pm)
Benetton vs Cardiff (6:30pm)
Newcastle vs La Rochelle (9pm)
Ulster vs Ospreys (9pm)
Sunday, 5 April
Stade Français vs Dragons (1:30pm)
Zebre Parma vs Pau (6:30pm)
Photo: Gallo Images
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