The DHL Stormers could move to the top of the United Rugby Championship standings if they beat the Dragons this weekend and other results go their way.
The Six Nations is done and dusted, and players from Europe and South Africa will turn their attention back to their respective club tournaments for the remainder of the northern-hemisphere season.
It will be interesting to see how some of the European teams fare this week, with some of the Test stars enjoying a short break after a taxing Six Nations campaign.
Meanwhile, the South African clubs will look to strengthen their respective playoff prospects in the URC, with only six rounds to play.
The Vodacom Bulls – who currently sit in eighth place – will be gunning for a home win against Cardiff on Friday night.
The Fidelity Securedrive Lions (seventh) will look to build on their recent results with a victory against Edinburgh in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon. The Hollywoodbets Sharks (10th) head into the showdown against Munster in Durban needing any sort of win to boost their quarter-final hopes.
The Stormers (second) could move to the top of the standings if they claim a bonus-point win against the Dragons on Sunday, and if Leinster do them a favour by beating the table-topping Glasgow Warriors.
Bulls v Cardiff
- Date: Friday, 20 March
- Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
- Time: 7pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
The 32-19 loss to the Stormers last week ended a four-game winning streak for Johan Ackermann's side, and they will have a point to prove against Cardiff this Friday. Cardiff have been one of the better touring sides in recent seasons, but some of the players may struggle to adapt to the altitude and heat at Lotfus Versfeld, and may battle to handle a Springbok-ladenBulls pack that will be determined to do some damage. While they've claimed big wins against Ulster and Leinster recently, they will start this game as 10.00 underdogs. Given the Bulls' erratic defence, however, it may be worth exploring Cardiff's handicap of +22 (1.95)
Lions v Edinburgh
- Date: Saturday, 21 March
- Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesbug
- Time: 2:45 pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
The Lions are coming off two wins against the Sharks, a series of results that earned them the South African shield. They should be too strong for a misfiring Edinburgh side at Ellis Park (the Scots start as 4.75 underdogs), and will be disappointed if they don't finish with a four-try bonus point.
Sharks v Munster
- Date: Saturday, 21 March
- Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Time: 5pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
The Sharks' mini-resurgence has faded into memory following back-to-back losses to the Lions. They're running out of time to make a charge for the playoffs, and may need to win this match to keep their playoff hopes alive. The timing of the fixture may count in their favour, as some of Munster's Test players have been rested after the Six Nations. That said, the odds are 3.25 on a Munster win, which some punters may view as tempting.
Stormers v Dragons
- Date: Saturday, 22 March
- Venue: Stade de France, Paris
- Time: 3pm (SA Time)
- TV: SuperSport
The Dragons have been one of the most improved teams on show this season, and as seen in their recent 15-15 draw with Benetton, they aren't to be taken lightly. That said, the Stormers should be targeting this match as an opportunity to claim five long points and push for pole position in the URC standings. The 11.00 odds on a Dragons victory tell a story, and bettors may want to explore the winning margins for the Stormers, who could well win by 25 points or more, given all of their Boks are back.
Check out the latest match odds and handicap markets for all the weekend’s cross-hemisphere clashes. You can find every URC price and updated line right here at SuperSportBet.
