Quarter-final spots at stake as SA teams return to Europe

The DHL Stormers, Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks will return to Europe this weekend for their do-or-die Round of 16 matches in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup competitions, where spots in the quarterfinals will be at stake.

The Stormers will line up against Toulon in France in the first Investec Champions Cup play-off match for the domestic franchises on Saturday at 4pm, while the Bulls will battle it out with the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland at 6.30pm.

In the EPCR Challenge Cup, theSharks will have all the motivation they need to replicate the form that saw them clinch the title for the first time in history in the 2023/2024 season when they take on Connacht in Ireland on Friday (9pm).

With all three teams playing away in vastly different conditions to those to which they are used to in SA, where they have played their last few Vodacom United Rugby Championship matches, they will have a mountain to climb. But given the high stakes and the fact that they are already in fighting mode in the URC, victories abroad will go a long way in boosting their confidence.

While the Stormers are high on confidence after three wins in a row in the URC, which has seen them occupy second position on the standings with four pool matches remaining, they will brace themselves for a desperate showing by Toulon, who may have won their last three Investec Champions Cup matches, but suffered defeats in four of their last five Top 14 matches, two of which have been at home, which has seen them languishing at the bottom end of the French table.

A victory will see the Capetonians strike an impressive run of four out of four in both competitions, which will serve to regain the momentum that saw them win their first 10 matches of the season. They will, however, be mindful of the fact that Toulon defeated them in Cape Town last season in the Investec Champions Cup, which will inspire the Frenchmen to replicate that result and bounce back from their disappointing results in recent weeks.

The clash between URC log-leaders, the Glasgow Warriors and Bulls will be particularly spicy given the fact that both teams occupy positions on the top half of the log, and even more so with the men from Pretoria looking to avenge their 21-12 defeat against the Scots earlier this season.

Fuelling the South Africans’ motivation, they will be charged up for the clash, knowing that should they register a victory, it would bring Glasgow’s unbeaten run in the Investec Champions Cup to an abrupt halt and it would be particularly satisfying as they have won only one of their four pool matches in the showpiece.

While the Bulls boast a better attacking record than the opposition in the URC, Glasgow’s defence has been far superior, which is an area the visitors will pay particular attention to going into the match.

The Sharks find themselves in similar territory to the Bulls, as they suffered a heavy 44-17 defeat against Connacht in Ireland earlier in their URC campaign. However, given the marginal difference between the teams in the competition, with the home side only one log position above the Durbanites and boasting only one more win in the competition to date, it could prove to be an epic encounter.

Making things even more exciting, Connacht are high on confidence after registering five victories in a row in the URC, while the Sharks come off a two-match winning run at home and realise the importance of building winning momentum.

FIXTURES

Investec Champions Cup

Toulon v DHL Stormers - Saturday @ Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon (4pm)

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

TV: SuperSport

Glasgow Warriors v Vodacom Bulls - Saturday @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow (6.30pm)

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)

TV: SuperSport

EPCR Challenge Cup

Connacht v Hollywoodbets Sharks - Friday @ Dexcom Stadium, Connacht (9pm)

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

TV: SuperSport