The four South African teams have everything to play for as the Vodacom URC resumes this week, writes LINDIZ VAN ZILLA.
After back-to-back clean sweeps over visiting URC opposition in rounds 13 and 14, the Stormers (second), Lions (fifth) and Bulls (eighth) are right in the playoffs mix with four rounds of the regular season remaining.
The Sharks (10th) have given themselves a chance with their recent victories, but are on the road and will need to keep winning.
With the likes of Leinster (fourth), Ulster (third) and the Dragons (15th) all still involved in Europe, the SA sides hold a slight advantage as they can focus squarely on the URC.
The STORMERS bounced back from shock derby defeats to the Sharks and Lions to beat the Bulls, Dragons and Edinburgh to claw their way back towards the top of the standings.
The Stormers sit second on 51 points, four behind leaders the Glasgow Warriors and several points ahead of a cluster of chasing clubs.
Next up is a clash against ninth-placed Connacht (39 points) at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
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John Dobson’s men have had time to shake off their agonising one-point loss away to Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup and recover from the physical and emotional toll.
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The LIONS are arguably South Africa’s form team in the URC, having won four on the trot against the Sharks, Stormers, Edinburgh and Dragons.
That run has lifted Ivan van Rooyen’s men to a heady fifth place, but there is no margin for error as only three points separate them from the eighth-placed Bulls.
The Lions (43 points) will look to make up ground on fourth-placed Leinster (46) and third-placed Ulster (47) who will both have one eye on a European semi-final in the first week of May.
However, standing in the way of those ambitions are Franco’s Smith’s log-leading Glasgow who will arrive at Ellis Park still smarting from a narrow loss to Toulon in the Champions Cup quarters.
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The BULLS have done well to hold onto eighth place amid a tight playoff race.
The Pretoria-based side has won five of their last six URC matches, with the lone blemish a reverse against the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld a month ago.
However, the Bulls find themselves on the road with a Welsh double-header coming up against the Dragons and Scarlets.
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Johan Ackermann’s side showed enough in their narrow Champions Cup last-16 defeat to Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium to suggest they are a force to be reckoned with.
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Of the teams below them, only Connacht (39 points) are currently within striking distance. The Bulls, though, will have the likes of Munster and Cardiff (both 41) and the Lions (43) in their immediate sights.
The SHARKS pretty much need to win every game from here on in to reach the playoffs, and even then, they will rely on other results to go their way.
JP Pietersen’s charges suffered costly away derby defeats to the Lions and Bulls in February. However, they bounced back with a show-stopping performance against Munster, before grinding out a win over Cardiff in their two most recent URC outings at the Shark Tank.
An understrength side then suffered an away defeat to Connacht in the last-16 of the Challenge Cup.
Like the Bulls, the men from Durban face the rigours of travel as they prepare to face the Ospreys and Edinburgh over the next two weeks.
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Round 14 results
Sharks 21 Cardiff 15
Glasgow Warriors 31 Benetton 10
Leinster 36 Scarlets 19
Bulls 34 Munster 31
Connacht 21 Ospreys 14
Lions 42 Dragons 26
Stormers 33 Edinburgh 14
Zebre 12 Ulster 28
Round 15 fixtures (SA times)
Friday, 17 April
Edinburgh vs Zebre (8:45pm)
Ulster vs Leinster (8:45pm)
Dragons vs Bulls (8:45pm)
Saturday, 18 April
Stormers vs Connacht (1:45pm)
Lions vs Glasgow Warriors (4pm)
Scarlets vs Cardiff (6:30pm)
Benetton vs Munster (8:45pm)
Ospreys vs Sharks (8:45pm)
Photo: Gallo Images
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