South Africa's leading teams may be hard-pressed to win their respective Champions Cup fixtures this weekend.
There's been a lot to like about the South African performances in the recent rounds of the United Rugby Championship.
As things stand, three of the teams are in the frame for the playoffs, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks may move up the URC log in the coming months if they continue to record positive results.
Whether the recent URC form will translate into Champions Cup success, of course, remains to be seen.
The DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls will feature in the Champions Cup Round of 16 this Saturday, with the Cape side travelling to Toulon in France and Johan Ackermann's charges heading up to Scotstoun to face the Glasgow Warriors.
Over in the second-tier Challenge Cup, the Sharks will face Connacht in Galway on Friday night.
The Cheetahs and Lions won't feature in the coming playoffs, having failed to progress from the Challenge Cup pool phase.
Connacht V Sharks
- Date: Friday, 3 April
- Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
- Time: 9pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
Connacht are tough to beat in Galway, as the Sharks discovered when they travelled to the Dexcom Stadium this past November. A lot has happened since that 44-17 win for the hosts, and while the Sharks have improved under new coach JP Pietersen, Connacht have hit some form in the URC, winning their last five matches. It remains to be seen how seriously the Sharks will take this match. Even with Eben Etzebeth and a few other senior Springboks back in tow, the Sharks suffer a narrow loss in Galway.
Toulon V Stormers
- Date: Saturday, 4 April
- Venue: Stade Mayol, Toulon
- Time: 4pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
The Stormers will host a Champions Cup quarterfinal next week if they beat Toulon and the Bulls down Glasgow. No South Africa side has managed to win a Champions Cup playoff staged in Europe, though, and Toulon will be tough to topple at home. John Dobson has assured fans that the Stormers will have a full crack in Toulon this Saturday, and it's worth noting that the hosts have failed to claim a win in their last five outings. The 2.75 bet on a Stormers win as well as +5 handicap are both worth exploring (1.95).
Glasgow Warriors V Bulls
- Date: Saturday, 4 April
- Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
- Time: 6:30pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
Glasgow sit at the top of the URC standings and remain on course to host a playoff – and possibly even the final. That said, coach Franco Smith and charges will be determined to make a statement in the Champions Cup, and may view a fixture against the Bulls as an ideal opportunity to book their place in the quarterfinals. While the Bulls won a Challenge Cup playoff in Bayonne last year, they've never won a Champions Cup knockout game staged in Europe. They have travelled to Glasgow with a strong squad and they will be competitive – and a bet on the +11 handicap should yield a 1.90 return. While an upset is unlikely, brave bettors may want to consider the 4.00 odds on a Bulls win.
Bet On The Champions Cup At SuperSportBet
Looking to add excitement to the Champions Cup? Place your bets on your favourite teams and matches with competitive odds and diverse rugby betting markets at SuperSportBet.
