SA teams turn focus to final two weeks of action in regular URC season

Now for the final push.

Having enjoyed a weekend off while the Champions and Challenge Cup competition semi-finals were played in Europe this last weekend, the four South African teams playing in the United Rugby Championship should be rested and ready to make the most of the final two rounds of action, which happen this weekend and next week.

That is all that remains in this season’s regular round of matches before the knockouts are reached.

And the good news is the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers are all well positioned to finish high up on the points table, while the Lions have an outside chance of still making the top eight.

Bulls and Sharks in top four

The Bulls are third with 58 points, and breathing down the neck of the second-placed Glasgow Warriors, who have 59 points.

This coming weekend Jake White’s men face Cardiff (fifth with 46 points), while in their final league game they take on Dragons (16th with nine points), with both matches at Loftus. Two wins could see them finish second, should Glasgow, the defending champions, come unstuck against Benetton (eighth, 41 points) and Leinster (first, 67 points) in their final two games, both of which are away from home.

Leinster suffered a shock Champions Cup semi-final loss at the weekend against Northampton and will now be fully focused on winning the URC this season, which will make them even tougher to beat.

The Sharks, sitting fourth with 53 points, can still catch the Bulls and Glasgow if results go their way, but they are seven points clear of Cardiff in fifth so should not finish lower than their current position.

But, they will need win at least one of their remaining games, against Ospreys (11th) and Scarlets (seventh), both being played in Durban.

Stormers and Lions

The Stormers have moved up nicely on the points table in recent weeks and find themselves in sixth place with 45 points. If things go their way they can finish fourth or fifth, but they must be aware of the teams chasing them – Scarlets in seventh have 43 points, Benetton (eighth) have 41 and Munster (ninth) have 41.

But John Dobson’s team face last-placed Dragons and Cardiff in their final two games at home.

The Lions, in 13th place with 35 points, need to win against Scarlets and Ospreys at Ellis Park and then hope a bunch of other results go their way, for them to make the top eight.