URC, quarterfinals - teams and predictions
SATURDAY PREVIEW: There is no space for mishaps as the Bulls and Sharks gear up to defend the honour of South African rugby in the United Rugby Championship this Saturday.
The Bulls will host Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld, and the Sharks will take on Munster at Kings Park.
Meanwhile, Leinster will face Scarlets in Dublin.
After a very strenuous season, both the Bulls and Sharks have secured home quarterfinals, which is a big advantage for the respective franchises.
The Sharks also picked up the South African Shield in the process, recording four local derby victories from six.
It’s a massive accolade and long overdue for the Durban side, who boast the crème de la crème of South African talent.
But despite the high-profile personnel, of the two teams, the Bulls have been the better side in the tournament.
Aside from Leinster, the Bulls have been the most consistent and have an incredible home record, which makes them the favourites heading into the quarterfinal clash against Edinburgh in Pretoria.
It’s a different story for the Sharks as they head into the fixture with Munster under a little bit more pressure.
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Will the Bulls march on?
Having beaten four Irish sides this season, one could argue that this might be the year Jake White’s men hoist the trophy.
They have seven straight URC victories to their name and have suffered only four defeats this season.
Not only that, the side’s home record has been impressive, with just one home defeat in the competition.
As the saying goes when it comes to play-offs: ‘It’s anyone’s game’.
“I’ve done this many times, and I don’t mean it in an arrogant way. I’ve just been lucky enough to experience these feelings of going into knock-out games,” Jake White said when asked about the atmosphere ahead of the fixture.
“But it’s very different this time.
“This group of players has exceeded expectations.
“In the first year, to play in the final where the average age was 23 years old, and then to get to another one last year. For whatever reason, we didn’t pull that one through.
“But I get the feeling that we are maturing. There have been new additions like Willie le Roux, but the others have all grown up. So I do feel it’s different.
“Everyone who has played rugby will tell you – these are the types of games you want to play.”
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The Bulls might go into the fixture as firm favourites, having beaten Edinburgh earlier in the season when the Pretoria outfit emerged 22-16 victors at home in the second round.
However, they will be wary of underestimating Edinburgh, who turned the tables with a 34-28 win in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarterfinal.
“Edinburgh have Scottish internationals in every position – and some of them are even on the bench.
“It’s not a given that we’re going to win this quarterfinal. It’s a big game, and we’re not taking it for granted.”
White said the Challenge Cup defeat to Edinburgh has given his team some valuable lessons.
“The blessing for us is that we lost to them a couple of weeks ago.
“I think if we had beaten them easily there, there would be a feeling that we’d walk over them again.
“We gave them a good start – they were 24-7 up at half-time. One of the key lessons is clear as day: we can’t give them a fast start.
“And we can’t just believe we’re going to beat them if they beat us the previous occasion.”
Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt has warned his team of the ‘physical threat’ the South Africans posed.
“We know the Bulls are always a massive physical threat, especially here at Loftus,” Everitt told reporters ahead of the clash.
“To compete and to win, we will need to be at our absolute best. That means bringing passion and intensity, but crucially, it also demands composure and clinical discipline for the full 80 minutes.
“We’ve been building momentum steadily throughout the season, and the players have worked incredibly hard to put ourselves in this position.
“There’s a real belief and confidence within the squad right now, and we’re in a good spot mentally and physically to tackle this challenge head-on.
“Winning a URC knockout match on the road would be a significant achievement for this club. It’s something we’ve been working towards, and the opportunity to make history is a powerful driver for us. We’ve got a fantastic group of players who are hungry for success, and we’re determined to put in a performance that reflects the ambition of Edinburgh.”
The winner will take on the Sharks or Munster, who will battle it out at Kings Park.
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Unknown territory
In Durban, the Sharks will have to lift their quality of play immensely to come away with a victory and book their first-ever URC semifinal berth.
The Bok-laden Sharks, captained by Eben Etzebeth, line up against 2023 champions Munster, who finished the pool stages three places below them in sixth.
With the Durbanites occupying third place on the log and having suffered only one home defeat this season, many would have punted them as outright favourites.
However, they struggled to a 12-3 victory against the Scarlets two weeks ago and were under pressure to deliver a strong second-half performance against the Ospreys a week earlier after entering the break 10-3 up.
As if that weren’t enough motivation to deliver their best performance of the season, the Sharks will also be mindful that Munster have been marginally more effective on attack. However, the Durbanites have been better on defence, setting the stage for a gripping encounter.
Plumtree’s team has been boosted by the return of playmaker Jordan Hendrikse, while Lukhanyo Am returns to the starting XV, earning his 100th cap for the side.
“I am very pleased that Hendrikse has returned, and Am is back. Obviously, Grant Williams tried hard but couldn’t get fit for the game. The neck is just an ongoing issue for him.
“Siya is back, and it has been a good week.”
Despite many naysayers, Plumtree revealed that this week will be no different for the Sharks – and fans should not expect an expansive brand of rugby.
“We’re out here to win a game, not to impress anyone – not to sound horrible.
“If we have to win ugly, so be it. There’s enough pressure on the team without me saying we have to score more tries.
“We need to get the job done, whatever that looks like.
“We’ve set our goals around what we’re trying to achieve, and none of them are around scoring 20 points.”
He revealed that both teams don’t need any motivation to secure a win.
“Munster is a proud group of players.
“Pete O’Mahony, Stephen Archer, and Conor Murray are leaving, and that’s definitely the fuel that will drive them.
“But our focus is on us progressing and playing at home.
“There’s plenty for both teams to play for, and it’ll come down to the side who wants it the most.”
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The Dublin Party
Then, it’s over to Dublin, where table-toppers Leinster host the Scarlets at Lansdowne Road.
Jimmy O’Brien will make his 100th appearance in blue, named on the wing, with James Lowe coming back into the team on the opposite side and Hugo Keenan at fullback.
Jamie Osborne partners Jordie Barrett in the centres, while Sam Prendergast starts at flyhalf with Jamison Gibson-Park at scrumhalf.
Jack Conan captains the team once more from No.8, with Ryan Baird continuing at blindside flanker and Josh van der Flier wearing the No.7 jersey.
James Ryan is partnered in the second row by Joe McCarthy, with Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson scrumming down either side of Rónan Kelleher at hooker.
Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani offer front row cover from the bench, with RG Snyman, Max Deegan, and Scott Penny also among the replacements. Luke McGrath and Ciarán Frawley complete the matchday 23.
Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde said: “In fairness to them, they’re a cohesive bunch. They’re obviously tight as a unit, tight as a team.
“It’s a test that we failed a couple of weeks ago – first against the Scarlets and then against Northampton.
“It’ll be a good test for us on Saturday. From a Welsh perspective, it’s great to see a Welsh team making it through to the quarterfinal.
“It’s been a tough season for everybody in Wales. From their perspective, it’s great.”
Predictions and teams below…
SATURDAY, MAY 31
Bulls v Edinburgh
(Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – Kick-off: 13.30; 12.30 UK time; 11.30 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Bulls by 10 points
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian De Klerk, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Devon Williams
Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Harry Paterson, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury (c), 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Liam McConnell, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Mark Bennett
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Peter Martin (Ireland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Leinster v Scarlets
(Lansdowne Road Stadium, Dublin – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Leinster by 25 points
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Scott Penny, 22 Luke McGrath, 23 Ciarán Frawley
Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Dan Davis, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Macs Page
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Sharks v Munster
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 Ireland & UK time; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Sharks by three points
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Francois Venter, 23 Yaw Penxe
Munster: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Mike Haley
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove White (Scotland), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)
*Additional source: SA Rugby
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