Harsh lessons will shape SA quest for URC title
OPINION: The battle-hardened Bulls and Sharks have revived their URC play-off hopes, while the Stormers and Lions will have a point to prove in the next round of derbies.
It wasn’t long ago when the All Blacks were the dominant force in world rugby, and rarely lost a Test.
Nevertheless, there were times during that golden era when critics accused the All Blacks of letting their standards slip.
Some suggested that a loss or two might do the All Blacks a world of good, as it would force the group to address their issues – and take their game to another level.
In response, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen declared that a successful team didn’t have to lose to take a lesson to heart.
It’s a statement that has been scrutinised for the better part of a decade, and even now, the question looms large.
Can a team learn tough and important lessons while winning consecutive matches, or is the process of reflection and recalibration reserved for the aftermath of a defeat?
I found myself thinking about Hansen’s statement and the dilemma of a winning streak after the Sharks beat the Stormers 30-19 this past Saturday.
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The result marked the Sharks’ first URC success at the Cape Town Stadium, and brought an end to the Stormers’ eight-game winning run in the tournament.
To be clear, the Stormers have taken their game to a new level this season, after bombing out of the URC at the quarterfinal stage last term.
Coach John Dobson recruited well in the off-season, and implemented changes to the game plan as well as the player-management strategy.
The players bought into the changes and, for the most part, stuck to the plan.
The shift in mindset resulted in 10 consecutive wins across both the URC and Champions Cup.
It’s been evident why the Stormers have been so successful, at least in the first part of the season.
A greater emphasis on tactical kicking and aerial contesting has led to significant gains on both attack and defence.
Overall, the Stormers have been the most balanced team in the URC, and on that basis, South Africa’s best bet for club silverware.
But more recently, the old question about learning while winning has resurfaced.
The stats show how the Stormers have kicked less as the season has progressed, and have doubled down on the big attacking play.
Suddenly their maul is creaking, their defence is leaking tries, and they’re haemorrhaging penalties and cards.
Dobson described the performance against the Sharks this past Saturday as the worst of the season.
It was a fair comment, given that the team underperformed in every department, and the coaches were out-thought by interim Sharks coach JP Pietersen and his staff.
Those who have followed the team closely this season will tell you that this performance – and an end to the winning streak – has been coming for some time.
The Stormers haven’t played with as much balance in recent weeks, which suggests they’ve strayed from the template that brought them so much success in the early part of the season.
To paraphrase Hansen, they haven’t learned while winning – and it may take the heavy loss to the Sharks for them to reset and reassess.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, at least at this stage of the season.
Rather they lose now and learn now than in the wake of a play-off defeat.
After leading the URC log for nine rounds, the Stormers have dropped to second place.
The good news is that the Stormers have a game in hand – and can still finish ahead of Glasgow Warriors – the current log-leaders – to secure home advantage for the play-offs.
The big question is how they will respond to the recent loss.
The Stormers remain the best-placed team in South Africa, but there’s something to be said for the way the Bulls and Sharks have hit back in recent rounds.
Several weeks ago, the Bulls and Sharks languished in the bottom half of the URC standings.
Coaching changes aside, the motivation and desire of two squads stacked with Springboks was questioned at home and abroad.
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A work of art 🤌@Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/ydZ0lwWDdx
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) January 26, 2026
The Bulls challenged that narrative when they gutsed out a win in Pau. The more recent victory in Edinburgh also showcased the team’s character.
The Sharks travelled to Cape Town last week as underdogs, and after an inconsistent first-half display, they appeared to be on track for another disappointment.
The second-half performance, however, was sharp, physical and relentless.
They delivered the biggest of statements when they outplayed and outlasted a Stormers team that’s developed a reputation for its second-half showings.
The Bulls and Sharks find themselves in a very different position to that of the Stormers, but this may be a turning point for Johan Ackermann’s charges as well as Pietersen’s men.
That said, they need to win the majority of their remaining matches to qualify for the URC play-offs.
The Lions missed an opportunity to bank an important away win against the Ospreys last week – although they did come away with a 24-24 draw.
A win for the Bulls in Johannesburg this Saturday could see Ackermann’s team moving into the top eight, and Cash van Rooyen’s charges dropping down the URC ladder.
The Lions beat the Bulls earlier this season, but may struggle to put a Springbok-laden team away at Ellis Park.
The Sharks could make a further statement by beating the Stormers in Durban, and continue their slow climb up the URC ladder.
For the Stormers, the coastal derby should be viewed as an opportunity to reset, and to remind all and sundry why they are South Africa’s best bet for club silverware in 2026.
