SA fans in for gripping penultimate Vodacom URC pool round

There will be no room for error for the four South African teams in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in the second-last round of pool matches this weekend, with every result set to have notable implications in their playoff hopes.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks, who are out of play-off contention, meanwhile, will look to give their supporters something to smile about in Durban after a challenging two-week tour.

With only seven points separating the teams from fifth to ninth places and eight of the nine teams in play-off contention playing each other this weekend, there will be no room for error.

The action will get underway on Friday night with log-leaders, the DHL Stormers, taking on the eighth-placed Ulster in Belfast.

Three fixtures will play out on Saturday – the seventh-placed Vodacom Bulls host last-placed Zebre Parma in Pretoria; the Hollywoodbets Sharks (10th) take on Benetton (13th) in Durban; and the third-placed Fidelity Securedrive Lions are up against fourth-placed Leinster in Dublin, what can be regarded as the match of the weekend.

While a victory for the Stormers (56 points) will go a long way in their quest to enter the final pool round in pole position, the Lions, who sit level on 53 log points with Investec Champions Cup finalists Leinster, will face one of the toughest tests of the campaign as they look to keep their home quarter-final hopes alive.

The Bulls (49 points), in turn, who trail Leinster by only four points, will look to capitalise on their home ground advantage at Loftus Versfeld against Zebre Parma in their bid to break into the home quarter-final positions.

The Stormers will be well aware of the fact that a slip-up against Ulster at the Affidea Stadium could see them tumble down the table, as only three log points separate them from Leinster. Piling more pressure on the Capetonians, Ulster will be high on confidence after booking their place in the EPCR Challenge Cup final last week.

With a favourable attacking and far superior defensive record to the hosts, adding to the Stormers’ desperation to finish the pool stages as the top-ranked team, they will back themselves to build on their impressive showing against the Glasgow Warriors in their last outing.

John Dobson’s side will also be mindful of the fact that although Ulster have won five of their seven URC matches so far, they suffered disappointing defeats in their last two home games, which they will want to make up for after a valuable home victory in the EPCR Challenge Cup against the Exeter Chiefs last week. All this paves the way for an epic battle.

In Pretoria, the Bulls, who are on a hot four-match winning streak, will back themselves to beat Zebre Parma at Loftus Versfeld, especially with the Italians having won only two of their 16 pool matches.

However, Johan Ackermann’s charges will definitely not underestimate the visitors, who have put up brave fights against some of the top sides in the competition and who will want to make up for suffering heartbreaking defeats in their last two matches.

Adding to the Bulls’ confidence, they will be playing at altitude at their fortress and boast prominent advantages in their attack and defence over the opposition but with the pressure of having to deliver two good results in the next two rounds to force their way into the top four, they need to be sharp and effective all around to achieve that feat and hope that a few other results go their way.

The Sharks, meanwhile, will return to Hollywoodbets Kings Park to host Benetton in what marks their second-last appearance of the campaign, and although both teams have only pride to play for, this should set the scene for a hard-fought match-up.

The KwaZulu-Natalians, coached by JP Pietersen, will draw confidence from their better attacking record. However, the teams are level on 402 points conceded, which could make it a tight battle.

The most significant SA fixture of the round will play out at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, when the in-form Lions, who have walked away with victories in their last six matches in the competition, take on Leinster in a vital shoot-out for a home quarter-final spot.

The two sides are locked on 53 log points and a victory for Ivan van Rooyen’s men could see them secure a place in the top four heading into the final round, while a Leinster win would push the visitors into a far more anxious final week.

This match also pits the URC’s most prolific attacking team in the competition, the Lions against one of the best defensive sides and an Irish opponent who have proven to be dangerous throughout the tournament after qualifying for the Investec Champions Cup final.

Making the clash even more exciting, both sides have won 10 of their matches to date but for the Johannesburgers, this is the moment to deliver on the form that has carried them up the standings in recent rounds.

A statement performance in Dublin would not only put them in a good position for a home quarter-final but it would also send a strong signal to the other teams that the Joburg side could be real play-off contenders.

Fixtures

Ulster v DHL Stormers - Friday @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast (8.45pm)

Referee: Andrea Piardi

TV: SuperSport

Vodacom Bulls v Zebre Parma - Saturday @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (1.45pm)

Referee: Ben Whitehouse

TV: SuperSport

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Benetton - Saturday @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban (4pm)

Referee: Ben Breakspear

TV: SuperSport

Leinster v Fidelity Securedrive Lions - Saturday @ Aviva Stadium, Dublin (6.30pm)

Referee: Hollie Davidson

TV: SuperSport