SA teams are well placed for URC success after poor overall showing in the European Cups
The Bulls are South Africa's sole survivors in the European Cup competitions but better news is that all four franchises can still make the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs.
The Sharks and Bulls are virtually certain to make the top eight in the URC given their current positions and with just four rounds to go, but the Stormers and Lions need to finish with a flourish to make it through the back door.
The promising situation for the latter teams is that they are at home for the last four fixtures and three of their four opponents are in the bottom half of the 16-team URC points table.
The four South African teams have unashamedly favoured the URC ahead of the Challenge Cup and even when the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers featured in the Champions Cup, their focus was more on the URC. All three sides at some point sent second-string sides for Champions Cup fixtures. For example, a Bulls B team shipped 49 points away to Castres and an under-strength Sharks side were beaten 66-12 in Bordeaux.
Embarrassing as those defeats were, the Bulls are sitting pretty in third place in the URC and the Sharks are over their shoulder in fourth.
That tells you where these teams' priority has been this season. Of course, it would be ideal to excel across all competitions but the South African teams simply don't have the squad depth of the French and leading Irish teams.
Leinster have for years had structures in place to ensure their youth academy produces players are capable stepping up to the big stages, as we have just seen when a Leinster B team almost beat the Bulls and did beat the Sharks.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The Bulls and Sharks don't have it as easy because two of their four games are overseas but they have some breathing space because of their high log positions.
Still, the Sharks in particular, are under pressure to beat Edinburgh and Ulster away because they have a flood of rested Springboks returning for these games, including key men in Eben Etzebeth and Aphelele Fassi.
The Bulls have the extra task of playing a Challenge Cup quarter-final this week before tough away matches to Munster and champions Glasgow. Coach Jake White, though, says this is a positive because the Bulls were in any case going to stay in Europe after having played in Bayonne at the weekend, to prepare for Munster. Remaining SA Fixtures
Stormers (all in Cape Town)
April 19: v Connacht
April 26: v Benetton
May 10: v Dragons
May 16: v Cardiff
Lions (all in Johannesburg)
April 19: v Benetton
April 16: v Connacht
May 11: v Scarlets
May 17: v Ospreys
Sharks
April 18: v Edinburgh in Edinburgh
April 26: v Ulster in Belfast
May 9: v Ospreys in Durban
May 17: v Scarlets in Durban
Bulls
April 12: v Edinburgh in Edinburgh (Challenge Cup quarter-final)
April 19: v Munster in Limerick
April 15: v Warriors in Glasgow
May 10: v Cardiff in Pretoria
May 17: v Dragons in Pretoria
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
20 minutes ago
- IOL News
Bulls and Sharks clash in epic URC semi-final derby showdown
Ruan Nortjé, captain of the Bulls, won't have to contest with Eben Etzebeth in the lineouts after the latter was ruled out of the URC semi-final at Loftus Versfeld. Image: BackpagePix The scene is set for a spectacular second-last round of the United Rugby Championship (URC) and at least one South African team will again contest the final this year. It will be the fourth season in a row where a local franchise features, which underpins the strength of SA rugby sides in the European tournament. Who will the team in the final be? That will be answered on Saturday evening in Pretoria. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Bulls will host the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld (6.15 pm start) and with home ground as their ally and news that Bok lock Eben Etzebeth is out of the semis, the hosts are in the inside lane to make it through to another final. They can still host a final should defending champions, the Glasgow Warriors, triumph over Irish giants in Leinster in the early match of the day. However, the Sharks are no pushovers and the way they've been grinding out wins to stay in the hunt for a first URC trophy should have caught the attention of the Bulls. While they have not played the prettiest of rugby and they dragged their opponents to the gutters to beat them there, the Durbanites know how to fight. That determination will be crucial at Loftus and without Etzebeth. The Sharks without Eben Etzebeth and Jason Jenkins against the Bulls on Saturday in the #URC semis #BULvSHA via @IOLsport - — Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) June 6, 2025
The Star
39 minutes ago
- The Star
Blow for Sharks as Eben Etzebeth ruled out of URC semi-final against Bulls
Springbok colossus Eben Etzebeth is out of Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final against the Bulls and in a further setback, fellow Bok lock Jason Jenkins is also injured. Etzebeth and Jenkins were the starting second row for last week's dramatic quarter-final defeat of Munster in Durban, but both picked up injuries in the bruising encounter. The Sharks' lock pairing for the trip to Loftus Versfeld is Emile van Heerden and Corne Rahl. Etzebeth has had an injury-plagued season and his absence against the Bulls is unfortunate. The most capped Springbok of all time, Etzebeth's experience, inspiration and brute strength would have been a vital tool for the Sharks against the in-form Bulls pack. The 33-year-old missed five months of rugby because of a concussion injury and then picked up a hamstring injury at a Bok alignment camp in March. He has been excellent for the Sharks since making his comeback last month, earning two Player of the Match awards. Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will captain the side in Etzebeth's absence. Kolisi is at No 8 and apart from the new second row, the pack is unchanged. Coach John Plumtree has also been able to field the same backline that played against Munster. There is a fresh backline face on the bench in the form of Jurenzo 'The Boogie Man' Julius. He is back from injury and replaces Francois Venter. The lock cover on the bench is Deon Slabbert, the 2m, 117kg former Pumas lock. Plumtree also has the option of moving flank Vincent Tshituka to lock during the game, and bringing on Phepsi Buthelezi. Sharks team 15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Lukhanyo Am 12 Andre Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Jordan Hendrikse 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Siya Kolisi (captain) 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 James Venter 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl 3 Vincent Koch 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ox Nche. Bench: 16 Fez Mbatha 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Deon Slabbert 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Bradley Davids 22 Jurenzo Julius 23 Yaw Penxe.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
URC Awards: Feinberg-Mngomezulu wins but Wilco Louw was the real workhorse
The Stormers Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu won the URC SA Player of the year Award on Thursday ahead of the Bulls' Wilco Louw and Cameron Hanekom. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Roger Federer. It was a big moment for me, as I have always admired the Swiss tennis maestro, and on a list of top sporting heroes, he surely would be among my leading considerations. For years, rather tongue-in-cheek, I have claimed him as a South African, due to his ties to this country through his mother. Over many matches before his retirement, I watched his skills and talents in awe, and have even received a threat or two from those who supported his opponents, due to a sense of humour failure and a lack of comprehensive reading on their part. Bulls prop Wilco Louw. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix I had known for weeks that I would get to meet the 20-time Grand Slam winner, so I had plenty of time to consider how I would approach him. I would be calm, collected, suave, and nonchalant – just another meeting with a normal human being, not the Super Saiyan tennis god that he is. What followed, as I struck out my hand to shake his, was a jumbled, incomprehensible mess that Federer was kind enough to ignore. Yes, in that moment, I was star-struck – overwhelmed that I had finally met the man, the myth, the legend. He was taller than I expected and extolled charisma up the wazoo. Indeed, it was almost tangible. On first meeting Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu last year, at his initial call-up to the Springboks, similar vibes were being transmitted. The 23-year-old is well spoken, self-assured in his abilities, and proud of them. Those in attendance who interacted with him on that first occasion, left Pretoria with an impressed nod, mentioning to each other what a pleasure he was to interview. There is no doubt that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is going places. He will arguably be one of the finest rugby players this country has ever produced. I would go so far as to say he will be a generational talent. He has developed precocious skills no player of his age should possess, and has already done some truly special things with the spheroid. He will do more special things in the future. But for him to win the United Rugby Championship (URC) SA Player of the Year award on Thursday is not totally agreeable. I recall in 2002, Sir Ian McKellen had been nominated for the Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I was convinced he would win the honour, and was rather miffed – to this day, mind you – that he lost out to Jim Broadbent for Iris. McKellen was, in my estimation, more deserving of the award – just as Wilco Louw is more deserving of this year's URC Player of the Year accolade. I am not faultless in all of this either – I was dazed and confused when the vote for the player award was requested and failed to cast my preference. My bad ... Nonetheless, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has played only 10 matches in the URC this season. Prop Louw is already on 16 – not including the semi-final against the Sharks on Saturday, and the possible final he could play a week later. By the time the URC is finished, he could have played around 1 000 minutes of rugby. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has battled with injuries, had a sub-par performance for the Stormers in a crucial quarter-final against Glasgow Warriors, and completed the season having played 572 minutes. According to the URC stats, Louw is the 15th best player in their Top 100 metric, while the Stormers utility-back did not even breach that list. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has had his moments, for sure, but Louw's input into the Bulls has been consistent, undeniable, inevitable and invaluable. The award was decided by the media and stakeholders of the tournament, and it strikes me that much like my interaction with Federer, we were overawed by the new, shiny item – to the detriment of the grizzled, rough-hewn gem that is Louw. Moreover, it is another case of valuing the sexy, aesthetically pleasing department of rugby union over the physical input and dark arts of the forwards. In short, it's great stuff for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but Louw? He was robbed … McKellen style. As for Federer — well, at least I have a photo to immortalise the moment. Awkward, of course, but memorable all the same.
