Latest news with #SHAvMUN
TimesLIVE
29-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Moment of truth for three SA teams in URC quarterfinals
South Africa's three United Rugby Championship (URC) quarterfinalists face their biggest task of the season as they line up against top opposition this weekend. The Stormers arguably face the toughest task of them all as they travel to Scotland to face the defending champions, Glasgow Warriors, on Friday. The Bulls and Sharks will have the luxury of home ground advantage against Edinburgh in Pretoria and Munster in Durban. With the playoff stages wrapped up, there will be no room for error as all three teams eye semifinal places. The Bulls, runners up in 2022 and 2024, will secure themselves a home semifinal if they emerge victorious, which will fuel their motivation immensely as they cast an eye further ahead as they attempt to reach the Grand Final for the second season in a row. The Stormers will have unfinished business in their clash against the Warriors after suffering a defeat against them at Cape Town Stadium in the league stages — their third straight loss against the Scottish team, with the Cape side having last managed to win this encounter in 2022. Inside the Monday morning gym session with Marcell 😅 never a dull moment 🔥 Prep is going well & we can't wait to see everyone at LOFTUS this weekend for our VURC Quarter Final clash against Edinburgh 🏆 🗓️ 31 May | ⏰ 13:30 | 📍LOFTUS 🎟️TICKETS ➡️ … — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 26, 2025 That the Stormers have won their last four URC games in a row will bolster their confidence, while Glasgow have lost their last three matches and will certainly look to bounce back. The Warriors will draw inspiration from winning seven out of nine of their home matches this season, but the Stormers will draw comfort that three of those victories were by three points or fewer. Glasgow have only won one more match than the Stormers this season, but the South Africans boast a better attacking record, with 39 more points scored than the opposition in their 18 pool matches. Glasgow have the second-best defensive record, with 17 fewer tries conceded than their opponents. However, history has proven that anything can happen in playoff matches and the team that makes the most of its opportunities can emerge victorious. Quarter-final incoming 💪 Beat the FOMO and get your #SHAvMUN tickets now at or from The Sharks Ticket Office. @vodacom #URC #SHAvMUN — The Sharks (@SharksRugby) May 28, 2025 The matchup between the Bulls and Edinburgh is expected to be hugely competitive, given the close contest between the sides earlier in the season where the Pretoria outfit emerged 22-16 victors at home in the second round. The Scots turned the tables with a 34-28 win in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarterfinal. With seven straight URC victories to their name and the team having suffered only four defeats this season, the Bulls enter the clash as favourites. However, they will be wary of underestimating Edinburgh, who, added to knocking the Bulls out of the Challenge Cup, have had a fair run of form too, losing only one of their last five matches, with one a draw. In fact, their only defeat among those was against the Sharks in Durban by one point. However, Edinburgh will have to enter the match strong-willed to break their disappointing away record, which shows six defeats in nine outings. Etzebeth's return after concussion concerns a boost for Sharks, Boks 'It was good to get that first 80 minutes against Scarlets under the belt.' Sport 1 day ago In stark contrast, the Bulls have suffered only one home defeat in the competition this season. The Pretoria team have won six more games than the Scots in the pool stages and have a better record on attack and defence. At Kings Park, the Sharks will have to lift their quality immensely to come away with a victory and book their first URC semifinal berth when they line up against 2023 champions Munster. This despite the Irish giants having finished the pool stages three places below the Durban side in sixth place. With the Sharks occupying third place and having suffered only one defeat at home 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 Ospreys a week earlier after entering the break 10-3 up. The Sharks will be mindful that Munster have been marginally more effective on attack, though the Durbanites have been better on defence, which will set the scene for a gripping encounter.
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Five key players for the Sharks in their first-ever home URC quarter-final
Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi scored nine points off the kicking tee in his previous clash, but the Sharks will hope their fullback is at his attacking best in the URC quarter-final against Munster on Saturday. Image: BackpagePix The Sharks will play their first-ever home quarter-final in the United Rugby Championship (URC) this weekend, and facing former champions Munster will be a big occasion for the home side. With a spot in the semis up for grabs, the Durbanites will need a team performance at Kings Park to shut out Munster, who have found a nick for winning play-off games away from home. Independent Newspapers looks at five Sharks players who must lead the side's quest to the top four. Two teams. Two Play-Off dreams. One epic Quarter-Final clash! 🔥 The odds? Almost too close to call — 47% v 53% for a Semi-Final spot 👀 Who's got the edge when the pressure is on? 💪@Vodacom #URC | #SHAvMUN — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) May 28, 2025 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. 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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. Next Stay Close ✕ Eben Etzebeth He said this week his body feels rested for the play-offs which is an unusual thing considering the long season, but he will want to make up for lost time after his spell on the sidelines when the team forged on in his absence. Etzebeth's physicality will be key for the side if they look to get over the advantage line with some big carries. Equally, he will have to light the fire on defence and at ruck time to halt the cunningness of the Irish at the breakdowns. They will look to get under his skin with off-the-ball stuff and that is where his leadership qualities will have to come through to avoid getting into the handbags. 🦈 The Shark Tank will be rocking... The stakes? Off the charts ☄️ This one's got all the ingredients for a classic 👌 🎟️ Get your tickets now and witness knock-out chaos 👉 #URC | #SHAvMUN — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) May 24, 2025 Aphelele Fassi The flying fullback is slowly but surely getting back into his stride after his injury layoff, and he was a shining light in their last game at home – a rather dull affair, but nevertheless won through his kicking boot. There should be fewer kicking responsibilities on the shoulders of Fassi and. hopefully, his attacking prowess can come to the fore. The Sharks owe their supporters an exciting attacking display. But Munster's kicking game could put him under pressure and defending against former teammate Thaakier Abrahams and Calvin Nash, Munster's wingers, could be tricky. Some wild kicks are in the running for @GILBERT_RUGBY Kick of the Month 🏉 Vote for your favourite kick below 👇#GilbertKOTM | #URC — BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 27, 2025 Jaden Hendrikse The overall gameplay of the scrumhalf has been under some scrutiny over the last couple of performances, especially with the Sharks struggling to get their attack going in games where they should've had the upper hand. With his kicking game, there is nothing wrong and it's something that the side can fall back on if they are under pressure. But Durban will want to see some good tries scored on Saturday and how sharp and quick he is at the breakdown area will be important. Hendrikse owes the team a performance that can take them into the semi-finals and it's about time he delivers behind a strong pack of forwards. Ox Nche The chief destroyer of the Sharks' scrum will look to feast again against his opponents. He has been at the helm of the powerful scrum the side produces over the season and will look to carry that form into the playoffs.
