There are just three URC games to look forward to this weekend. In the Republic, the Bulls travel to the Stormers before the Sharks host the Lions. In the north, Cardiff welcome Scarlets in what should be a hotly-contested Welsh derby.
Saturday 9 April
Stormers 7/10 | Draw 22/1 | Bulls 12/10 (14:00)
The clash of the round sees the Stormers host the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. The result of this one between the two highest-ranked sides in South Africa will have a massive bearing on which teams finish higher up the standings come the end of the regular season. The hosts currently lead the way in the SA Shield, ranked sixth overall but just a point better off Jake White’s men, with January’s encounter between the two at the Bull Ring ending 30-26 in favour of the Cape side.
With the Stormers on a four-game winning run and the Bulls unbeaten in five, both outfits head into this one high on confidence. That said, the Capetonians have looked slightly more polished and should edge it at home to make it a double over the Bulls this season.
The Stormers have probably been the most impressive of the South African sides over the last few weeks and should sneak over the line against an almost equally impressive Bulls side.
Sharks 1/4 | Draw 25/1 | Lions 3/1 (16:05)
The Lions will be eager to upset a Sharks team that has more than its fair share of weaknesses at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday. Much like the rest of the SA contingent, the once struggling visitors have used the home leg of the competition to turn their season around and have now recorded four wins in a row. While playoff contention may be out of the picture with Cash van Rooyen’s charges in 12th, they can still look to climb as many places as possible before the end of the season.
The Sharks won the previous encounter in January 47-37 in Johannesburg so they will be confident of going back to back. That said, they do have weaknesses, particularly regarding accuracy and execution amongst the halfbacks, and they could be under pressure if the Lions match them at the contact point. Still, the hosts should have enough to get over the line at home.
The Sharks appear to have shaken off the cobwebs with their hammering of Dragons last week. They should bag the win at what could be a very damp Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Cardiff | Draw | Scarlets (16:10) * betting tba
The Scarlets can make it two wins in a row with a win over Cardiff in the Welsh capital on Saturday. Dwayne Peel’s men beat their rivals 35-20 in Llanelli a week ago to become the Welsh Shield leader with just a few rounds to play. Like the rest of the European sides, they struggled on their tour of South Africa but can still make a success of their season with four of their next five games coming against fellow Welsh opposition.
Cardiff are 14th overall, four places below Scarlets, but can close that gap with wins in their final few fixtures. That said, they were undone last week at home and unfortunately could find themselves on the receiving end again here against a good Scarlets outfit.
Cardiff have endured an indifferent season thus far and should come undone against Scarlets.
