The DHL Stormers, Fidelity Securedrive Lions and Vodacom Bulls claimed big wins this past weekend to strengthen their United Rugby Championship playoff prospects.
The good news is that three local teams – the Stormers, Lions, and Bulls – are on track for the URC playoffs.
If results go their way in the final two rounds of the league phase, all three may be in a position to host a quarterfinal fixture in South Africa.
The bad news is that the dream of all four franchises qualifying for the knockouts is well and truly over.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks went down 33-28 in Edinburgh on Friday evening to bow out of the URC playoff race.
Most expected the Sharks to prevail against the struggling Scottish outfit, given the number of Springboks at their disposal.
In the end, Edinburgh hung on for a narrow victory, and those who took a bet on the underdogs made a 2.50 return.
On Saturday afternoon, the Stormers bounced back from their recent loss to Connacht to thrash Glasgow Warriors 48-12 in Cape Town.
While the result was largely expected, the winning margin raised a few eyebrows.
Glasgow were expected to push the Stormers close and finish within the +6 handicap, but on the day, they never got close.
Lions And Bulls Maintain Winning Momentum
Up in Johannesburg, the Lions recorded their sixth-successive win when they beat Connacht 33-21.
Connacht scored at the death to add some respectability to the scoreline, and to ensure that those who bet on the 14-point handicap walked away with a 1.90 return.
Up in Llanelli, the Bulls were made to scrap for a 23-21 win against the Scarlets.
The result marked the Bulls' first win in Llanelli, but they will be disappointed with their attacking performance, and with the fact that they struggled to put away a Scarlets side languishing at the foot of the URC log.
URC Log Standings Update
The weekend's results see the Stormers leapfrogging Glasgow at the top of the standings.
The Lions have moved up to third place, while Leinster have dropped to fourth in the wake of their shock 29-26 loss to Benetton in Treviso.
Munster have climbed to fifth after their 41-14 win over Ulster, who have slid down to eighth.
Cardiff are currently sixth and the Bulls are seventh.
Only four log points separate the Bulls and Leinster at this stage, and Johan Ackermann's side could finish in the top four in the coming weeks and earn the right to host a playoff.
European Competition Outlook
The European club semifinals will be staged this coming weekend.
None of the South African teams have qualified for the Champions Cup or Challenge Cup semifinals, and as a result, the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers will have a week's rest before resuming their quest to qualify for the URC playoffs.
Leinster will face Toulon in the first Champions Cup semifinal in Dublin on Saturday afternoon, while reigning champions Bordeaux-Bégles will tackle Bath in France on Sunday.
Over in the Challenge Cup, Ulster will face the Exeter Chiefs in Belfast on Saturday, and Montpellier will host the much-improved Dragons on Sunday.
Place Your Bets Today
With the URC playoff race heating up and European semifinals on the horizon, there has never been a better time to get in on the action. Back your favourite teams and find the best markets at SuperSportBet.
