Is a historic SA play-off sweep on the cards in the URC?
SPOTLIGHT: As we gear up to the final six rounds of the United Rugby Championship, Rugby365 examines each South African team’s chances to break into the play-offs.
The rescheduled fixtures are done, and so are the local derbies following this past weekend’s action between the Bulls and Stormers.
Now it is the race to the eight, with some teams fighting for play-off spots whilst others are trying to surge up the ladder for the best possible regular-season finish.
Rugby365 breaks down each South African franchise’s chances of making the play-offs.
Sharks
A team that showed what they’re capable of when they’re playing to their true potential since JP Pietersen took the head coaching reins from John Plumtree.
They made a statement by doing the double over the Stormers before being outplayed by SA Shield winners, the Lions.
Currently in 11th place, they have home fixtures against Munster, Cardiff, Benetton and Zebre, with consecutive away matches in between against Ospreys and Edinburgh.
Springbok resting protocols and injuries could play a factor, but the Sharks should be able to win five matches from their upcoming six, with Edinburgh the possible banana peel along the way.
Whilst Munster and Cardiff are rated above them, they could rack up bonus point wins at home, earn four points against Ospreys, before clinching two bonus point victories at home against Benetton and Zebre. A losing bonus point (or two) is also a possibility.
That amounts to 25 points, pushing them up to 49, which should be enough for a top-eight finish.
Bulls
Level on points but a spot ahead of Connacht (eighth), the Bulls still have an opportunity to finish in the top four and secure a home quarterfinal.
*Also read ‘Not good enough’: Bulls’ DNA dismantled by Stormers
They’ll face Cardiff and Munster at home; the latter have tasted victory at Loftus Versfeld before.
Then they take on the Dragons and Scarlets away from home before finishing in Pretoria against Zebre and Benetton.
The Bulls could record bonus point wins against all six teams and earn themselves 30 points, which would have them at a total of 60 and secure a possible top-four finish.
Lions
Three points ahead of the Bulls, but with a tougher ask in their quest to reach their maiden play-off bid in the URC.
A run of four consecutive home matches against Edinburgh, Dragons, Glasgow Warriors, and Connacht should be enough to secure bonus point victories in all of them, but Franco Smith’s Warriors could be the potential banana peel.
They’ll finish the regular season on the road against Leinster and Munster, which won’t be an easy task.
The Lions, however, seem to have found their groove and can secure 20 points at home before travelling to Ireland, where they could sneak a point or two extra.
Should they secure 21 points, it would take them up to 54 points, which should be enough to secure a play-off spot.
Stormers
South Africa’s best shot at silverware.
*Also read ‘To have him back is magic’: Stormers have another ace in their side
Despite their dip after losing three consecutive derbies (Sharks twice and Lions once), the Stormers are back in contention following their win at Loftus Versfeld against the Bulls.
They, too, like the Lions, have a block of four consecutive home matches against the Dragons, Edinburgh, Connacht, and Glasgow Warriors before facing Ulster and Cardiff away.
Glasgow Warriors have been a thorn in the Stormers’ side, but John Dobson’s men should get the job done at home.
Four bonus point wins, and one on the road, would amount to 25 points, which would give them 66 points and a possibility of a top two finish for a home quarter and possible semifinal and Final.
