Check out all of our South African Shield United Rugby Championship Predictions for the 2022/2023 season here!
The inaugural (covid-affected) United Rugby Championship season certainly delivered on all of its promise. The season culminated in the Stormers, somewhat surprisingly, lifting the trophy after beating the Bulls 18-13 at the Cape Town Stadium.
It also marked the first time in 14 editions of PRO 12/14/URC rugby that an Irish province didn’t feature in a Grand Final. Leinster were beaten 26-27 at the RDS in the first semi-final by the Bulls.
The Stormers would dramatically sink Ulster at the Cape Town Stadium just under 24 hours later. With Manie Libbok nailing at 87th-minute conversion to secure a home final for the Cape side.
😤 Manie Libbok the Stormers hero! #STOvULS
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) June 11, 2022
🎯 The fly-half kicked this last-gasp conversion to take them into the #URC final. 👏pic.twitter.com/fdVRcBuPV5
SA teams must find balance with European commitments
Looking ahead, all four of the South African sides will need to strike a bit more balance this time around.
The Sharks, Stormers and Bulls have Champions Cup commitments while the Lions will take part in the Challenge Cup. Also worth noting is the Toyota Cheetahs’ confirmed participation in the second-tier competition.
This amounts to a minimum of four extra games for each of the sides. Take a look at each of the SA sides’ European opposition below:
Champions Cup
The Sharks will play home and away against Harlequins and Bordeaux.
The Stormers play home and away against Clermont and London Irish.
The Bulls play home and away against Lyon and Exeter.
Challenge Cup
The Lions play home and away against Worcester and Stade Francais.
The Cheetahs play home and away against Pau and Scarlets.
South African Shield
The South African shield looks set to be the most competitive of the competition next season. The Sharks, Stormers and Bulls will probably be in the play-off mix at the end of the regular season after some solid wheeling and dealing in the off-season.
Cell C Sharks (9/1)
The Sharks have recruited well and will be looking to Eben Etzebeth (Toulon), Vincent Tshituka (Lions) and Carlu Sadie (Lions) to bolster an already stacked forward division. The arrival of Johan Janse van Rensburg also addressed one of last season’s big issues- the Andre Esterhuizen-shaped hole in their midfield.
Their biggest strength is arguably their biggest weakness. Sean Everitt’s side is loaded with Springbok stars, all of whom will spend significant time away on international duty this season.
The experience that their youngsters gained on tour during the early salvos of last season’s URC should stand them in good stead this time around. Their off-season acquisitions should also see the KZN side be far more competitive against the Europeans when their Boks are away.
Verdict: Play-offs
The Sharks have so much quality in their ranks. They’ve done some really good business in the off-season and should, at very least, make the play-offs once again.
It's official!!! Welcoming the explosive backline general, Rohan Janse van Rensburg to our Sharks family on a 3 year deal 🦈#OurSharksForever pic.twitter.com/zN6RdRu6VR
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) May 4, 2022
DHL Stormers (10/1)
The Stormers shut out all of their off-field issues on their way to claiming last season’s United Rugby Championship title and come into this edition of the competition brimming with confidence.
They’ve lost the services of Warrick Gelant who has joined Top 14 giants, Racing 92. Their notable arrivals include springbok hooker Joseph Dweba and the man with the coolest hairdo in South African rugby, Clayton Blommetjies.
With a massively impressive pack consisting of an all-Springbok front row of Steven Kitshoff, Dweba and Frans Malherbe providing front-foot ball for their electric backline.
It’ll also be interesting to see if Evan Roos can pick up where he left off last season. The former Sharks man was named URC Player of the Season last time out and will want to force his way into the run-on Springbok side with another big season in the Cape.
Verdict: Play-offs
The Stormers should be able to secure a play-off place. Whether they can replicate their second-place regular season finish remains to be seen.
Pure power from Evan Roos 💪
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 24, 2022
A huge play from the @THESTORMERS No.8
🎥 @URCOfficial pic.twitter.com/qrNiNTMd50
Vodacom Bulls (12/1)
The Bulls’ have once against recruited well. Wandisile Simelane, Sbu Nkosi and Ruan Vermaak are their most notable additions. Don’t be surprised if this side claim another final berth under the guidance of Jake White.
Unlike the Sharks, the Bulls don’t haemorrhage as many key members of their squad to Springbok commitments. White will demand his side start this campaign stronger after losing five of their opening six matches last season.
They should win their first game of the season at the Lions. Edinburgh and Connacht will provide tougher tests at Loftus in the two following weeks.
Verdict: Play-offs
I really like the look of this Bulls side. At 12/1, they probably represent the best value in the outright markets. I’ll be having a little go.
🚨 IT’S OFFICIAL 🚨
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 12, 2022
Sbu Nkosi, one of the game’s most destructive carriers and most lethal finishers, has signed for the Vodacom Bulls 💪
We can’t wait to see you do this in the BLUE 🔥#TrueToTheBlue pic.twitter.com/s193DBPeXr
Emirates Lions (100/1)
The Lions may find themselves cut adrift once again. The Jo’burg franchise have lost two of their standout players from last season in skipper Burger Odendal (Wasps) and Vincent Tshituka (Sharks).
They remain a dangerous outfit, however, and will no doubt take a few big scalps at Emirates Airline Park where the altitude can hamstring even the best European sides.
They may well see the Challenge Cup as a more realistic target this season. Ivan van Rooyen might fancy outgunning their European opposition on the Highveld if they can secure a good finish in the Pool stages.
Verdict: To miss out on play-offs
I think the Lions might just miss out on the play-offs this season. Having said that, they might be one of the surprise packages in the Challenge Cup.
The Lions got their try! 🦁
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 9, 2022
A first in the #URC for Henco Van Wyk 👏 #SHAvLIO pic.twitter.com/EXdMew7Vmw
Take a look at all of the South African sides' ins and outs below:
Ins: Eben Etzebeth (Toulon), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale Sharks), Nevaldo Fleurs (Maties), Vincent Tshituka (Emirates Lions), Carlu Sadie (Emirates Lions), Lionel Cronje (Toyota Verblitz)
Outs: Sbu Nkosi (Vodacom Bulls), Marius Louw (Emirates Lions), Ruben van Heerden (Exeter Chiefs), Rynhardt Jonker (Emirates Lions), Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (Hindu), Jeremy Ward (Stade Francais), Olajuwon Noah (Bayonne)
Ins: Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux Begles), Clayton Blommetjies (Toyota Cheetahs), Chris Hollis (Emirates Lions), Gary Porter (Ealing Trailfinders)
Outs: Warrick Gelant (Racing 92), Sergeal Petersen (released), Rikus Pretorius (released), Tim Swiel (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi)
Ins: Phumzile Maqondwana (Airlink Pumas), Ruan Vermaak (NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes), Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), Wandisile Simelane (Emirates Lions), Mihlali Mosi (Toyota Cheetahs), Chris Smit (Toyota Cheetahs)
Outs: Madosh Tambwe (Bordeaux Begles), Sintu Manjezi (Glasgow Warriors), Arno Botha (Lyon), Richard Kriel (Zebre Parma), Walt Steenkamp (Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars)
Ins: Marius Louw (Cell C Sharks), Andries Coetzee (Benetton), Rynhardt Jonker (Cell C Sharks), Ruan Smith (Waratahs)
Outs: Burger Odendaal (Wasps), Vincent Tshituka (Cell C Sharks), Carlu Sadie (Cell C Sharks), MJ Pelser (Zebre Parma), Wandisile Simelane (Vodacom Bulls), Chris Hollis (DHL Stormers)
