The DHL Stormers and Lions both scored late tries to claim valuable derby wins this past weekend. The big north-south derby staged in Cape Town on Saturday didn’t exactly live up to the hype. While there was no shortage of niggle and drama, the handling and decision-making left a lot to be desired, even though the Stormers as well as the Vodacom Bulls were stacked with Springboks. Swirling winds and the poor pitch at the DHL Stadium contributed to a low-scoring affair – and yet, few could have predicted an aggregate score of 21 points. In the end, the Stormers bench had the final say, and replacement prop Ntuthuko Mchunu scored a try in the 78th minute to give his team a 13-8 win. Brave bettors who took a 3.40 punt on the Bulls will be disappointed with the outcome – although those who bet on the +7 handicap (1.90) will have earned some money.
The earlier South African derby was just as close, and a late try by replacement scrumhalf Haashim Pead gave the Lions an unexpected 23-22 win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban. The Lions went into the game as 3.80 underdogs, and the game appeared to be slipping away from Cash van Rooyen’s charges, until that final flourish.
Impact On URC Standings
Recent results have had a significant impact on the URC standings. The Stormers’ win over the Bulls – their 10th consecutive victory of the season – has taken them two points clear of the next best team at the top of the log. Glasgow Warriors moved into second place after a 45-10 victory over Zebre at home, while Ulster climbed to third after their 28-3 win over Munster in Belfast. Leinster thrashed Connacht 52-17 in Dublin to extend their winning run to seven matches and move up to fifth place in the standings. Following their win in Durban, the Lions have climbed to seventh place. At this stage, they remain in the running for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Bulls’ sixth-consecutive loss sees them dropping down to 11th. The Sharks finished the round in 14th place, and were overtaken by the resurgent Dragons, who beat the Scarlets 28-5 in Newport this past weekend.
Focus Shifts To European Competitions
The South African teams will turn their attention to the European tournaments this coming weekend, as the race for the playoffs heats up. The VBulls will be desperate to bounce back from losses to Bordeaux-Bégles and the Northampton Saints when they host the Bristol Bears in Pretoria on Saturday. Later that evening, the Sale Sharks tackle the HollywoodBets Sharks in Manchester. The final Champions Cup pool clash involving a South African franchise will be staged on Sunday, when the unbeaten Stormers travel to London to face the Harlequins. Meanwhile, in the Challenge Cup, the Lions face Lyon in Johannesburg on Saturday while the Cheetahs play Ulster in Amsterdam on Sunday.
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