The Stormers celebrate a try of flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. They will head overseas for their final two games at the top of the URC log.
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The battle for a place in the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs will go down to the wire over the final two rounds, but the Stormers are already assured of their place in the knockouts.
Now, it’s over to the Lions and Bulls to ensure they join their fellow South African side, after all three teams recorded excellent victories to remain in the hunt for home fixtures in the quarter-finals.
Only nine teams remain in the play-off race, and with some sides set to face one another in the closing rounds, the contest for home play-off spots is set to go right down to the wire.
We take a look at the state of play for the SA sides ahead of the Champions Cup break.
Stormers (1st, Points 56, Played 16, Won 12, Lost 4, Points Difference 166)
They hold their ambitions in their own hands. With two games remaining against Ulster (8 May) and Cardiff (15 May), they must travel overseas if they are to retain top spot on the URC log. Following a commanding victory over the Glasgow Warriors to claim first place, the Stormers have the momentum to stay in the driving seat.
Eight points from these two matches should be enough to secure a Top 2 finish, but they will be targeting the full 10 points against two sides fighting to remain in the play-off positions. It will be anything but straightforward.
The loss of scrum-half Cobus Reinach to injury could also have a significant impact on how they approach their final two matches.
Lions (3rd, Pts 53, P16, W10, D1, L5, PD 90)
They are also heading overseas for tricky clashes against Leinster (9 May) and Ulster (16 May), making a Top 3 finish far from guaranteed. It is equally difficult to pinpoint which fixture they should target for at least one victory to secure a historic quarter-final berth.
After a run of six wins, they will need to reset and prepare mentally for what awaits in Ireland against the defending champions and a former URC winner. Their home victories will have boosted confidence, but the Lions must raise their performance levels to cope with the Irish conditions.
It is arguably the toughest assignment of the SA teams’ run-in, but they have the personnel to claim at least one victory. Having brought themselves into contention, two more wins would guarantee a home play-off in Johannesburg.
Bulls (7th, Pts 49, P16, W10, L6, PD 99)
Following a successful tour in which they collected nine points from challenging fixtures, the Bulls return to Loftus Versfeld to conclude their campaign against Zebre Parma (9 May) and Benetton (16 May). The latter fixture is likely to prove the sterner test, particularly after Benetton’s victory over Leinster this past weekend.
However, the Bulls will be confident of collecting a full 10 points against the Italian sides, given their respective positions on the log. Zebre remain rooted to the bottom, while Benetton have managed only six wins from 16 matches. It presents a favourable opportunity for the Pretoria side to push for a home quarter-final.
They will hope results elsewhere fall in their favour, while also sharpening their own performances to ensure maximum returns. Despite a few injury concerns, they should have enough quality to overcome their visitors once the URC resumes.
Sharks (10th, Pts 36, P16, W6, D1, L9, PD -35)
They endured a disappointing end to their overseas tour and are now out of contention for the play-offs. As a result, their final two home fixtures will be about building momentum and potentially giving younger players an extended run ahead of the new season.
A few have already made a strong impression, and it will benefit head coach JP Pietersen to offer them further opportunities, particularly in Durban. They face Benetton (9 May) and could do the Bulls a favour by softening up the Italian side. Their final match, against Zebre (16 May), offers a chance to end the season on a high at the Shark Tank.