Each Point Matters in the Vodacom URC Playoff Race Heating Up
The four South African teams are preparing for a pivotal weekend as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship heats up. With 15 out of 16 teams competing for playoff spots and only five matches left to clinch their places in the quarter-finals, the stakes are high.
The Vodacom Bulls, sitting in third with 45 points, and the Hollywoodbets Sharks in fourth with 44 points are at the forefront among South African teams striving for playoff progression. The Sharks enjoy an 11-point cushion over the eighth-placed DHL Stormers, who currently have 33 points. However, with Zebre Parma in 15th place just six points behind and only three points between them and the 13th-placed Emirates Lions, every team will approach their fixtures with determination.
The DHL Stormers will kick off the weekend’s action against Ulster in Northern Ireland on Friday night, setting the stage for an exciting Saturday for South African rugby fans. The Vodacom Bulls will welcome Zebre Parma in Pretoria, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks will take on the top-ranked Leinster in Durban, and the Emirates Lions will face the defending champions Glasgow Warriors in Scotland.
With only a single log position and one point dividing the DHL Stormers from ninth-placed Ulster, their clash in Belfast promises to be electrifying. The Capetonians are eager to secure their place in the top eight, while their Irish opponents are keen to usurp them and move into the upper half of the table.
John Dobson’s side will likely be buoyed by their recent away victory against the Scarlets, where they won 29-17, as they look to build momentum for their final tour match against Connacht next week.
However, they must be wary of the Ulster team, which has demonstrated a stronger scoring capability this season and will look to leverage their home advantage after winning their last match at Kingspan Stadium against the Scarlets.
The DHL Stormers can draw confidence from their solid defensive record this season, but with both teams achieving six wins from 13 matches and a coveted top-eight spot on the line, this match could very well be a nail-biter.
Adding to their motivation, the Capetonians have emerged victorious in three of their last four encounters against Ulster, although those wins came at home. They will be keen to avenge a heavy 35-5 loss they suffered during their last trip to Belfast.
Simultaneously, the Vodacom Bulls will enter their match against Zebre Parma at Loftus Versfeld as favorites, boasting nine wins this season in contrast to the Italians’ five.
Moreover, Jake White’s team is 18 log points clear of Zebre and has only suffered one home loss this season, having recently achieved a morale-boosting win over Leinster, marking the Irish team’s first defeat of the year.
With superior records in both attack and defense compared to their Italian rivals, the Vodacom Bulls will remain vigilant and not underestimate their visitors, who nearly caused an upset against the Hollywoodbets Sharks last week and have significant away wins under their belts against Ulster and Edinburgh, along with four losing bonus points.
On the other hand, the Hollywoodbets Sharks will face one of their toughest challenges of the season as they go up against a determined Leinster side eager to recover from their last-minute defeat to the Vodacom Bulls.
Though the teams have comparable points scored, the Hollywoodbets Sharks must brace themselves for a challenging match, especially given Leinster’s standing as the best defensive unit in the league, having conceded just 187 points in their 13 outings.
While Leinster has triumphed in their last three meetings against John Plumtree’s team, the Hollywoodbets Sharks won their most recent matchup in KwaZulu-Natal back in 2022—a victory they hope to replicate on Saturday to close the gap at the top of the table and earn a better chance to host a quarter-final.
The Emirates Lions face a daunting opponent in the second-placed Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium, looking to avoid a third straight defeat after a heartbreaking 20-17 loss to Cardiff last week—one they had within their reach.
A win for the Emirates Lions would greatly enhance their chances of finishing the pool stages within the top eight, whereas a victory for the home team would likely solidify their grip on second place in the standings, which is crucial for maintaining a top-two finish.
Glasgow heads into this matchup as favorites, having secured nine victories compared to six by the Emirates Lions, and with the teams positioned 11 places apart in the standings. Nevertheless, Cash van Rooyen’s squad has exhibited their capability to achieve away victories, narrowly missing out against Cardiff and securing wins over the Dragons and Zebre Parma on the road.
Match Information:
Ulster v DHL Stormers
Date: Friday, 28 March
Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast
SA Time: 21h35
Referee: Andrea Piardi
TV: SuperSport
Vodacom Bulls v Zebre Parma
Date: Saturday, 29 March
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
SA Time: 14h45
Referee: Mike Adamson
TV: SuperSport
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Leinster
Date: Saturday, 29 March
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 19h15
Referee: Ben Breakspear
TV: SuperSport
Glasgow Warriors v Emirates Lions
Date: Saturday, 29 March
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
SA Time: 21h35
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
TV: SuperSport
Image courtesy of Steve Haag Sports