Bulls, Stormers and Sharks face stern tests in European Champions Cup knockout
The Sharks have shown few weaknesses this season and are the leading South African candidates by bookmakers to be crowned champions.
The notion of the ‘European Champions Cup’ was pushed to its absolute limit when it was announced that the South African sides would be taking part in the tournament in 2022/23.
The South African teams excelled in the United Rugby Championship in the 2021/22 season, with an all-South African final seeing the Stormers beat the Bulls 18-13. This came after the Stormers finished second on the table, the Bulls finished fourth, the Sharks ended in fifth place and the Lions ended their campaign in 12th.
In their first season in the Champions Cup, the Sharks, Bulls and Stormers all managed to make it out of the two initial groups and into the knockout rounds. This was really quite impressive considering how many world-class teams there were in the competition.
The Sharks were able to finish in third in their group after winning three matches and losing once, while the Bulls snuck through the same pool with two wins and 10 points.
The Stormers were able to power to three wins in Pool B, finishing in third ahead of the likes of Leicester, Munster and Ulster.
Clearly, European competition has been treating the South African sides well, but they now face real tests in the knockout stages. The Sharks, boosted by their third-placed finish, will host Munster at Kings Park Stadium.
The Sharks know Munster well and they will be aware of the sort of test they will likely face. This match will be all about handling the pressure of a powerful Irish pack and a tight game plan that will look to hone in on the frailties of the Sharks. Fortunately for the home side, they have shown few weaknesses this season and are the leading South African candidates by bookmakers to be crowned champions.
For the Stormers, they face a tough test as they host Harlequins at the Cape Town Stadium. The likes of Marcus Smith, Danny Care and Joe Marler all help to make up a Harlequins side that are frightening with the ball in hand on their day.
The problem for the English side is that they concede a lot of points. If the Stormers can get points on the board early and force Quins to chase the game, then it could open up space for the home side to exploit.
However, they will be aware of the fact the away side can hurt them, especially if they give Smith time with the ball in hand. Stopping the fly-half is likely vital to their chances of winning this one.
The final South Africa side in the competition comes in the form of the Bulls, and they face the daunting task of travelling to the Stadium Municipal to face Toulouse. The French side have managed to win 11 of their 16 league matches at the time of writing, while they won all four of their Champions Cup matches too.
These wins came in very tough games as they beat English side Sale home and away, while also dealing out the same punishment to Ireland’s Munster. If the Bulls are to win this match, they will have to nullify the likes of Ange Capuozzo, with the French side looking to play with quick ball.
Ultimately, the South African teams have every chance of moving into the next round. They will all look to lean on their supreme ability to play a physical game in the forwards with quick and intelligent play in the backs.
The Sharks and the Stormers will be fancied more than the Bulls, with the latter having to make the trip to face France. For the other two, home advantage will likely play a role in them progressing, although nothing can be taken for granted in the Champions Cup, especially when playing heavyweights such as Munster and Harlequins.
