URC, Quarterfinals - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY PREVIEW: Only three spots are up for grabs as six teams battle it out in the 2023 United Rugby Championship quarterfinals on Saturday.
To add a little bit more spice, Saturday offers a big North-South derby between the Stormers and Bulls in Cape Town – a repeat of last year’s Grand Final.
The Sharks travel to Dublin to take on league leaders and Champions Cup finalist Leinster, and Glasgow Warriors face Munster at the Scotstoun stadium.
North-South derbies have been proper humdingers with the balance slightly tilting towards the Stormers and away from the Bulls in the last few years.
However, there might be space for an upset.
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‘A massive kick’
Both the Stormers and Bulls come off morale-boosting victories last weekend for third and sixth places on the log respectively, and with one of the teams guaranteed to advance to the semifinal, neither side is expected to give without a fight.
The Capetonians will enter the clash as favourites thanks to their impressive win record at home and their winning streak against the Bulls.
They have lost only twice in 21 home matches in the last two seasons.
“We are desperate to win,” Stormers coach John Dobson said in Cape Town.
“Going out to the Bulls in the quarterfinal would be a massive kick because it’s not the goal we set out for ourselves at the start of the season.”
“I think, Saturday, for us, could be the hardest of these play-offs. ”
Dobson said initially the thought of another North-South derby frightened him.
“The initial feeling was, not another South African derby and it’s usually tight, so our luck is bound to run out.
“But then I looked at Munster and Connacht and their respective forms and thought whichever quarterfinal, it would’ve been a challenge.
“The Bulls we know pretty well and we understand them a bit better, but my initial thought was horror because we have a lot to lose.”
The past is ‘irrelevant’
For the Bulls to finally knock the Stormers off their perch in Cape Town will be sweet revenge. A victory will make up for their disappointing five-point defeat in the final last season and 10-point loss against the Stormers in Cape Town in the league stages.
The Bulls are used to knockout pressure and can deliver yet another upset similar to their win in last year’s URC semifinal against Leinster.
“It’s absolutely irrelevant how many times they’ve [Stormers] won before,” Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White said when asked about the two teams’ previous encounters.
“It’s knockout rugby now, and whatever happened last year, month or week is irrelevant. [Saturday] is an opportunity to advance to the next round of the competition.
“And it’s all or nothing.”
White added: “The players are in the right space. It’s knockout rugby now, and a couple of months ago, we had no chance of making the playoffs.
“If I read all the articles, we were doom and gloom. We had, in everyone’s eyes, a poor season after ending sixth on the log. Some teams play really well and end up fifth and fourth.
“I am not disputing that it’s a massive challenge. But it’s a knockout game now, and one thing we have managed to do over time is to play really well in games that have counted, where we’ve had to win and knock people out of competitions.
“That’s all I can trust myself and the team on – we’ve got a history of playing really well in those big games. And it’s going to be massive.”
Performance of their lives
Sharks, meanwhile, will have to deliver one of their best performances of the season to topple Leinster – who finished the pool stages as the top team after suffering only one defeat and one draw all season.
The Durbanites, however, will draw massive inspiration from the fact that the Bulls defied the odds to beat Leinster in Dublin in the semifinal last season – a feat the Sharks will be looking to emulate this week.
Unfortunately for the Natalians, they will be missing the services of a few key national players due to injury, including captain and flank Siya Kolisi (knee), lock Eben Etzebeth and scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse (both shoulder injuries), which will deny them some invaluable experience in this crucial encounter.
The team will be captained by Lukhanyo Am.
“It will really take an 80-minute performance to give ourselves a chance to beat Leinster,” Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell admitted.
“A 75th-minute performance is not even going to be enough to put them away. But if we produce an 80 minutes show, I’m sure we have a chance.”
Smith’s big task
Glasgow Warriors has the tough challenge to face Munster.
In the final quarterfinal clash, Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors face Munster.
Glasgow have won their last six matches since losing 24-35 to the Lions in Johannesburg in February and will have a lot of confidence.
The side has a growing South African contingent and will be captained by Kyle Steyn.
However, Smith does not underestimate Munster, who have not lost away from home in the championship since their loss to Leinster in October.
Glasgow Warriors head coach Smith said: “Munster are a team who knows how to play in playoff rugby and have been on a strong run of form in recent weeks.
“We know that we must be at our best in order to meet the challenge they will pose.
“Training this week has been competitive and has seen the squad push each other to be the best they can be – we look forward to the test waiting for us on Saturday.”
Saturday, May 6:
Stormers v Bulls
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.30; 13.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Stormers by five points
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Willie Engelbrecht, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Leinster v Sharks
(Lansdowne Road, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.00; 18.00 SA time; 16.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Leinster by 10 points.
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Ciarán Frawley, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (captain), 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Max Deegan, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Ryan Baird, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Cian Healy, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Liam Turner
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Henry Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Phendulani Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Nevaldo Fluers, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Glasgow Warriors v Munster
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Glasgow by five points.
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Steyn (Captain), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Lewis Bean, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Ali Price, 23 Huw Jones
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Peter O’Mahony (Captain), 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 John Hodnett, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Alex Kendellen
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales); Manuel Bottino (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
*Additional source: SA Rugby
*Photo credit: Carl Fourie
