There’s everything to play for in Round 12 of the United Rugby Championship this weekend.
On Saturday, two South African derbies will see the Lions host the Sharks at 14h30 at Ellis Park, with arch rivals the Bulls and Stormers squaring off at Loftus Versfeld at 17h00.
These local units will only face each other once more after this weekend’s action, and while bragging rights always have a galvanising effect, the log-point chase will be an even bigger carrot as the race to the play-offs heats up.
All four South African sides are still in the running to secure play-off berths with seven pool rounds remaining - albeit with different chances of success.
While the Bulls and the Sharks will be aiming to retain their positions in the top-four with positive results on Saturday, the Stormers and the Lions will aim to shoot as close to the top-eight as possible.
Lions v Sharks
How things stand
The Lions and the Sharks are in very different positions going into the fixture.
While the hosts have now won five and lost five of their URC matches, the Sharks have bagged seven wins compared to just three losses.
The men from Johannesburg – in 12th spot - are four points off a play-off place and have one game in hand. Considering that they’ve never made the URC knock-outs, a top performance this weekend should be all the ammunition they need.
The Sharks – in fourth position on 34 points – are six points behind the third-placed Bulls, who have played one more game than the Durbanites.
Recent history
In the Sharks’ most recent URC, they pulled off a big upset against the Bulls at Loftus, securing a 29-19 victory and scoring four tries to the hosts’ four, despite Jake White’s side dominating most areas of the game.
In previous derbies this season, they also overcame the Stormers 21-15 in Durban in November and followed that up with a 20-17 victory over the Bulls the following month, again at their home venue. John Plumtree’s charges’ only derby defeat against local opposition so far this season was against the Stormers (24-20) in Cape Town.
For the Lions, the confidence gained from their 30-23 triumph over the Stormers at Ellis Park a fortnight ago can’t be too big a wave to ride given their disappointing 31-19 fumble against the Bulls in Pretoria last week. They sure had their chances, but failed to make use of it.
Prior to that, the attack-savvy side registered wins over Ulster and Edinburgh at home, and the fact that they have only lost at home once – against the Bulls – should give them something to draw belief from.
The teams will also take to the field next week in their postponed Round-One fixture, a game Plumtree excitedly described as “a little Test series” and a “two-week challenge.”
Bulls v Stormers
How things stand
This will mark the last local derby for the third-placed Bulls (on 40 log points) and the 10th placed Stormers (24 points).
While the Bulls have one hand on the South African shield already, a loss against the Stormers can snatch that advantage away, especially considering that they have played one more game than the Sharks, who trail them by six points. The Stormers, on the other hand, are three points shy of a play-off feature.
The Bulls have played 11 matches so far and are just two points behind Glasgow. They have won eight and lost three. The Stormers, meanwhile, have played 11 and lost seven.
Recent History
That 33-32 defeat at home to the Bulls should really be all the motivation they need. That, and the fact that they can’t afford any more slip-ups if they want to see a top-eight finish as anything more than a pipedream.
Describing the Stormers’ season as ‘disappointing’ is an understatement.
The inaugural URC champions are far from the powerhouse they can be given the players in their arsenal, and while they have been dealt a vicious hand this season in terms of injuries, their depth is of such quality that casualties shouldn’t be a deterrent to success for them.
‘Dobbo 7, Jake 0’ is surely a taunt that stung for White following the Stormers’ impressive winning streak against the Bulls. White’s men, however, snatched that and now stand to secure a three-peat over their rivals with a W this weekend.
