The DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls fell agonisingly short of historic away wins in the European Champions Cup this past weekend.
Expectations were tempered when the Stormers and Bulls travelled to Europe this past weekend for the Round of 16 phase of the Champions Cup – and when the Hollywoodbets Sharks headed to Connacht for a Challenge Cup knockout match.
No South African side has managed to win a Champions Cup playoff staged in Europe, and that record certainly influenced the betting markets, with the odds stacked against the travelling teams.
The Sharks started well in Galway, but were overpowered by a more clinical Connacht outfit in the second stanza of the Challenge Cup clash on Friday.
The 29-12 defeat marked a disappointing end to the Sharks' stint in Europe this season, and they will face an uphill battle to qualify for the next edition of the Champions Cup, given they are currently 10th in the United Rugby Championship standings.
The Champions Cup playoffs involving the Stormers and Bulls were more competitive, with the result in the balance until the final whistle.
The Stormers pushed a star-studded Toulon side all the way, only to be denied the winning score at the death. The French team hung on to claim a 28-27 victory.
While South African fans may have preferred a win – the Stormers started the game as 2.75 underdogs – savvy bettors that banked on the +5 handicap will have earned a 1.95 return.
The torrential conditions at Scotstoun on Saturday evening served as a grea leveller, as the Bulls held their own against a crack Glasgow Warriors outfit.
Springbok utility forward Marco van Staden scored in the dying stages of the contest to bring the Bulls within one point of the hosts, before Glasgow kicked a late penalty to win 25-21.
A Bulls win would have paid 4.00, but in the end they finished well within the +11 handicap (1.90).
The Champions Cup action continues this coming weekend, with the quarterfinal lineup now confirmed.
Bath fought back to sink Saracens 31-22, and will face another English team in the next round on Friday. Northampton Saints earned their spot after they overcame Castres 49-41.
Glasgow will host Toulon on Saturday. After surviving a scare against Edinburgh – and going on to win 49-31 – Leinster will face Sale Sharks in Dublin on Saturday evening. Sale claimed a stunning 26-17 win against Harlequins in London this past weekend.
Reigning champions Bordeaux-Bégles will face Toulouse on Sunday, having beaten Leicester Tigers 64-14 in the Round of 16. Toulouse proved too strong for Bristol Bears in the recent playoff encounter, and romped to a 59-21 victory.
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