History a sure thing for SA in URC play-offs

OPINION: History will be made regardless of which South African team progresses to the Final of the United Rugby Championship.

If the Stormers progress, they have a chance of becoming the first team to win two URC titles. If the Bulls make it, they can claim their first or add yet another Final appearance to their resume.

If the Lions make it through this weekend, they will build on what has already been a historic season for them by adding another milestone, and if they get to the final, well, that writes itself.

*READ: URC, Quarterfinals predictions 

So, there is everything to play for in a quarterfinal round that will feature three South African teams.

Bulls v Munster

If falling short at the very end increases hunger for success, then the Bulls must be ravenous by now.

The men from Pretoria have played in three URC finals since the start of the competition in its current form in 2021.

At the pinnacle of the 2021/22 season, they faced their coastal rivals and inaugural URC winners the Stormers in Cape Town, a match they lost 13-18, before going down to Glasgow Warriors in the 2023/24 Grand Final at Loftus and losing out to Leinster at Croke Park last season.

The Bulls have played in the most URC finals, but they are yet to win the title.

They will move closer to shaking the bridesmaid tag if they get past Munster at Loftus – which they should – to set up a semifinal clash against the winner of the Glasgow Warriors v Connacht match.

The expected outcome is for top seed Glasgow to get the better of the eighth-placed Connacht.

If that is the case, and should the Bulls not be on the wrong end of an upset in Pretoria, Johan Ackermann’s group will head to Scotland for the semis.

While a home semifinal would certainly make things easier, it’s a rather unlikely scenario given that Connacht would need to beat Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium to afford the Bulls that luxury.

Progressing past the semifinals would set the Bulls up for a fourth appearance in the final and the possibility of a repeat of the 2021/22 main event against the Stormers is a salivating prospect.

But before that possibility can be entertained, the Bulls first have to deal with Munster and survive an incredibly challenging assignment against Glasgow in Scotland should both make it to the semis.

Stormers v Cardiff

The Capetonians have a score to settle with the Welshmen after their 16-22 defeat at Arms Park in Round 18.

It was a performance full of wrongs to right, and if the Stormers can get some redemption against Cardiff, which they should playing at home at Cape Town Stadium, they will set up a semifinal against either Leinster or the Lions.

The only way the Stormers can host a semifinal is if the Lions pull off a remarkable upset in Dublin. If Leinster win, the Stormers will pack their bags for Ireland for the last-four.

Before they need to zoom in on travel stress, home-ground advantage will be a big factor for John Dobson’s squad in Cape Town this weekend.

Traveling has been an issue for the South African teams from the very start of the URC.

A big part of their struggles has been the 4G pitches in Europe – a faster surface that can prove problematic for those accustomed to playing on grass.

That won’t be a concern this weekend, but it can also be easy to replace past shortcomings with new ones; even if the Stormers iron out everything they had to address following their defeat to Cardiff in Wales, complacency can cost them and negate any improvements, with or without an artificial surface underfoot.

But the Stormers know better than to make that mistake or to make the 4G factor or being back on grass this weekend the centre of their focus, with tighthead prop Neethling Fouche this week saying “Cardiff are a good rugby team and they’re in the top six for a reason…It’s not like the wheels come off when they run onto grass.”

Facts.

Leinster v Lions

The Lions’ task will feel a little less impossible after Leinster’s shocker against Bordeaux Bègles in the Champions Cup final.

In fact, the way Leinster were swept aside by Bordeaux will instill new belief in all of their opposition for the foreseeable future, especially those as attack-minded as the men from Johannesburg.

What will be key, however, is that the Lions stick to that attack-mindedness in the quarterfinal, and not resort to a heavy kicking-oriented game as has, at times, been the case when playing abroad.

They need to play their game against Leinster, the game that has seen them win the South African Shield for the very first time, the game that has seen them score the second-most points in the competition, the game that saw them qualify for their first-ever URC quarterfinal.

While the Lions have done well to evolve their game into a much more all-rounded asset, their primary strength needs to remain their axis against a wounded, yet impossible to underestimate Irish outfit.

If they can overcome Leinster in Dublin, a semifinal against the Stormers in Cape Town is on the cards.

The Lions and the Stormers have each recorded a win in their domestic derbies, with both teams winning their home games.

But it will be a case of first things first this weekend for the South African contingent, especially for those playing away from home.