The North-South derby shifted the log, putting the Stormers back in the driving seat for a home semi-final. Meanwhile, the Lions and Bulls are locked in the Top 8 battle, and the Sharks are fighting for their playoff lives. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
With six matches left in the round-robin stages of the United Rugby Championship (URC), it is crunch time for the South African franchises in their quest to reach the Top 8 of the competition.
All four are still in the running to reach the play-offs – which would be a first for the SA sides if they make it – but hard work lies ahead if they are to reach that goal and solidify their dominance in the tournament.
Following their victory over the Bulls on Saturday, the Stormers are in second place and have their home play-off – at least until the semi-finals – in their own hands. They’ve put some daylight between themselves and the chasing Bulls (eighth) and Lions (seventh), while the Sharks are the only team outside the play-off spots, and they have a mountain to climb to get there.
We look at the state of play with six matches to go.
Second | Played 12, Won 9, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Points Difference 112, Points 41
Next six games
The Stormers showed on Saturday that they know how to arrest their poor form, and they did so in style against what was a high-flying Bulls team. That bonus-point victory was crucial and it put the Cape side back in the top two on the URC log.
Now the hard work starts for them. They have a couple of tough matches over the next two months and must be at the top of their game to see them through. The Stormers can’t afford any lapses in concentration; otherwise they won’t host a home quarter-final or potential semi-final.
They’ll look at the next few games and realise that it is one of the toughest run-ins they’ve had in the tournament, and only victories will keep them at the top. Four-try bonus points will also go a long way, and they’ll target certain matches to achieve that. But when they come up against teams like Edinburgh, Ulster and Glasgow, all that will count is a victory.
The Stormers have one foot in the playoffs, and the next four home games will be vital to ensure that they stay near the top of the table. The two away matches in the final rounds will be tricky to navigate, but building momentum in front of their home fans could aid them.
Seventh | P12, W6, D1, L5, PD -17, Pts 33
Next six games
Win the home games at all costs. That should be the main priority for the Lions, currently in seventh place on the table, as they head into the final stretch of the season.
This is arguably their best chance to reach the playoffs for the first time, judging by their next few fixtures. The Johannesburg side is on a two-match winning streak at Ellis Park and must build on their strong performances against the Sharks and Stormers. Those were impressive victories and that momentum will be needed to keep their Top 8 push going.
Jekyll-and-Hyde performances in the final stretch have been their undoing in previous seasons, but this team looks a more mature outfit. They’ve shown that they can beat the best at Ellis Park and that killer instinct must remain over the next couple of months.
Serious questions about the pedigree of the team and coaching staff will be asked if the Lions can’t reach the playoffs again. They have no European Challenge Cup commitments and can focus all their time, energy and preparation on the URC. The players are well-rested and there can be no excuses when it comes to the next couple of home games.
Eighth, P12, W6, D0, L6, PD 21, Pts 30
Next six games
Looking at this fixture list for the Pretoria side, their path to the playoffs appears to be the easiest of the four local teams. However, the day-and-night performances of the Bulls could be problematic over the next few months.
They were on a run of seven victories and looked to have found their mojo under new coach Johan Ackermann, only for the side to lose to a struggling Stormers outfit at Loftus Versfeld. It is tricky to predict which Bulls team will pitch up at the moment, but should they rediscover their winning form, most of their next opponents won’t be able to match them – especially in Pretoria.
The Bulls haven’t done their ambitions any favours with the loss to the Stormers, but there is still enough time to get things right. Their next two games at home against Cardiff and Munster will be key; both teams are ahead of them on the log, and the Bulls can take massive strides up the standings if they return to winning ways.
It is time for them to shake off the helter-skelter performances and rediscover the form that brought them that seven-match winning streak. If they can’t, they run the risk of dropping out of the playoff spots over the next few weekends.
11th, P12, W4, D1, L7, PD -77, Pts 24
Next six games
They are currently the bottom-feeders among the SA sides, and it will take a massive effort for them to reach the playoffs. They must win all their games, but judging by their season so far, doing that is probably out of reach.
Still, the Sharks have shown plenty of fight and they won’t go down without scrapping for a place in the Top 8. However, it is time to step up and go on an unbeaten run. They looked good in their two victories over the Stormers, but that momentum has since been undone after losses in Gauteng to the Lions and Bulls.
Their next fixture against Munster will indicate the direction the team is heading in. They’ve had a short break to assess where they are and must get back on the proverbial horse against their Irish visitors on Saturday at home. They will bank on their home support to kickstart their bid for a playoff spot.
The Sharks are not too far off the quarter-final places, and if they can hit their straps with two home victories in March and challenge the Ospreys and Edinburgh overseas, they can still rescue their season and put themselves in a position for a Top 8 push.