SA teams aim to stay in top half of Vodacom URC log

The four South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams will do everything in their power this weekend to retain their places in the top eight as the cross-hemisphere showpiece strikes round four with most teams finding their momentum after the opening rounds.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks and 10bet Lions are in action from 8.45pm (SAST) on Friday night – the KwaZulu-Natalians take on Cardiff in Wales, while the Gautengers face log-leaders Edinburgh in Scotland.

Two matches will play out in South Africa on Saturday – the Vodacom Bulls host Ulster in Pretoria (1.45pm) and the DHL Stormers take on the Scarlets in Cape Town (4pm).

The fifth-placed Sharks will be bracing themselves for a big battle against the sixth-placed Cardiff at Cardiff Arms Park after both teams registered two victories in their opening three matches. Only one log point separates the teams on the standings but the Durbanites will undoubtedly enter the match with confidence after registering a last-gasp 40-33 victory against LOU Rugby in the EPCR Challenge Cup in France last week.

Cardiff, meanwhile, will be itching to strike back after disappointing defeats in their last two matches against Leinster in the URC and Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup to return to winning ways in their second home match of the season.

The KwaZulu-Natalians will take comfort from the fact that they have been more effective on attack in the competition scoring 23 more points than the opposition in their first three outings but Cardiff have been more efficient on defence, meaning the Sharks will have to convert their chances into points, especially with their enterprising style of rugby this season.

The Lions, currently seventh on the log, will undoubtedly want to bounce back from their defeat against Stade Rochelais last week in the Investec Champions Cup and secure a victory for their teammate Hyron Andrews, who tragically passed away a day before the match in France, when they meet Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium.

With their emotions still running high from the shocking loss of their teammate, the Gautengers will be under no illusions about the challenge awaiting them, especially against the only team that have won all their matches so far this season.

Edinburgh have been in fine form this season, and their ability to push through for the result in close matches against Ulster and the Stormers are cases in point.

Over and above this, they have been marginally better than the Johannesburgers on attack, while they have conceded almost half the number of points by the opposition, which will undoubtedly place the pressure squarely on the visitors’ shoulders going into the match.

That said, the Lions showed last season that they can be a force to reckoned with by advancing to the quarter-final of the URC, and they will certainly not hold back with Andrews in their minds and a place in the top eight at stake.

On Saturday, the Bulls will be bracing themselves for an epic encounter against Ulster, who have had to settle for back-to-back draws against the Glasgow Warriors and Munster, while they come off a convincing 40-21 victory against Zebre Parma in the EPCR Challenge Cup, which will most certainly give them the boost they need to change their URC fortunes.

The third-placed team from Pretoria will back themselves in front of their home crowd following two comprehensive victories and a narrow defeat against Munster so far in the URC and adding to their motivation they come off a commanding 56-20 victory against Stade Francais in the Investec Champions Cup – form they will be determined to build on as the competition progresses as they aim to secure their fourth final berth in a row.

Their impressive statistics over the opposition, which shows the Bulls scoring 126 points to 88 by Ulster, and 54 points conceded to 93 by the Irishmen, added to home ground advantage will also give them the boost they need to deliver a dominant display to come out on top.

In Cape Town, the fourth-placed Stormers will enter their match against the 12th-placed Scarlets as the favourites given their fighting form this season, which has seen them topple Connacht and the Sharks in the URC and register a stunning 49-12 victory against the Bristol Bears in their first Investec Champions Cup match.

Despite going into the match with winning momentum and favourable attacking and defensive statistics, the Capetonians will be mindful of the fact that the Scarlets have been very competitive this season, suffering a narrow defeats against Cardiff and the Dragons, before registering back-to-back victories against Benetton in the URC and Newcastle in the EPCR Challenge Cup, which will fuel their determination for a third victory in a row, and power their way up the table.

With their passionate supporters firmly in their corner, the Stormers will be well aware of the importance of winning their home games in the competition and will be determined to remain in the top four, which will fuel their motivation to come out fighting to ensure that they are on the winning side of the scoreboard in what is expected to be an interesting match-up.

Fixtures

Cardiff v Hollywoodbets Sharks - Friday @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff (8.45pm)

Referee: Andrea Piardi

TV: SuperSport

Edinburgh v 10bet Lions - Friday @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh (8.45pm)

Referee: Peter Martin

TV: SuperSport

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

Referee: Ru Campbell

TV: SuperSport

DHL Stormers v Scarlets - Saturday @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town (4pm)

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson

TV: SuperSport