The Hollywoodbets Sharks and Bulls tour north while the Stormers and Lions are at home in round 15 of the URC.
Friday 18 April
Edinburgh | Draw | Hollywoodbets Sharks
Eighth-placed Edinburgh will be looking for their third win over South African opposition in successive weeks when they welcome the Sharks to the DAM Health. Sean Everitt’s men beat the Lions in the Challenge Cup round of 16 before holding off a late Bulls surge to progress to the semi-finals last week. They’ll need to refocus on URC matters here though with seventh-placed Benetton and ninth-placed Cardiff locked on the same number of points as them in a tightly contested mid-table.
With their European ambitions ended at Lyon two weeks back, the Durban side have just the URC left. They remain in a strong position, six-points clear of fifth-placed Munster in fourth, and can take another big step towards a home quarterfinal with victory on Friday. With a number of Springboks expected to return, they will be tough to stop.
Verdict: Hollywoodbets Sharks on the board
Get on the away team to get the better of the Scottish outfit.
Saturday 19 April
Lions | Draw | Benetton
The Lions have hit an awful run of form at a crucial part of the season. Ivan van Rooyen’s men have lost their last four matches in all competitions, results which have seen them drop out of Europe and now sit 14th in the URC – six-points off the top eight. Victory over Benetton in Joburg is a must if they hope to wrestle their way back into playoff contention.
Benetton are seventh heading into their two-game tour of the Republic, with three of their remaining four games set to be played away from home. With that in mind, banking any kind of log points in Joburg could be crucial in the context of their campaign.
Verdict: Lions on the minus
The Lions to down Benetton on the highveld.
Stormers | Draw | Connacht
From an unfavourable position a few months ago, the Stormers have managed to claw their way back into serious playoff contention, and they host Connacht on Saturday sitting 10th, just one-point off the top eight. With Saturday’s clash marking the first of four successive home matches for John Dobson’s charges, expect them to be dialed in from the word go.
Connacht’s trying season wasn’t helped by their narrow 40-43 Challenge Cup quarterfinal exit to Racing 92 a week ago. They will arrive on the west coast sitting 13th but will need to work extremely hard to take any points off their hosts here.
Verdict: Stormers on the minus
The Capetonians to collect all five-log points against Connacht.
Ospreys | Draw | Cardiff
12th-placed Ospreys managed to secure a 13-all draw at the Arms Park in the January 1st reverse fixture but will need to put last week’s narrow Challenge Cup quarterfinal defeat to Lyon behind them heading into this one. They’ve played some good rugby of late and should have enough in the tank to bounce back and knock over their rivals from the capital.
With just one win from their last five games in all competitions, Cardiff’s drop in form sees them come into this encounter in Swansea in ninth-place, level on 36-points with Benetton (seventh) and Edinburgh (eighth). Still, they can wrap up the Welsh Shield with victory.
Verdict: Ospreys on the board
The hosts to down Cardiff in the Welsh southwest.
Munster | Draw | Bulls
Error-strewn Munster were well beaten in the end by Bordeaux in their Champions Cup quarterfinal, a week on from a rousing display in their defeat of Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle. Sitting fifth on the URC ladder, they’ll look to focus on channeling what they produced at the Marcel Deflandre when they tackle an equally dejected Bulls outfit this week.
The Bulls did well to stage a Challenge Cup fight back from 31-7 down against Edinburgh, but their ultimate 34-28 defeat means that, like Munster, all their eggs will be in the URC basket from here on out. Sitting third and just four-points off second-placed Glasgow, the two-time runners-up will be going full throttle to ensure they maintain the pace on the log in what will be their third straight game overseas in all competitions.
Verdict: Munster on the board
If Munster bring the same intensity they did to their trip to La Rochelle a fortnight ago, they should hold off the Bulls.
Dragons | Draw | Scarlets
11th-placed Scarlets are three-points off the top eight following their win over Ospreys at the end of March. Having already thwarted Dragons 32-15 on New Year’s Day, they will be confident of securing a similar result on Saturday at Rodney Parade. Dragons haven’t given any indication that they can put a stop to what is now a nine-game losing streak.
Verdict: Scarlets on the board
Scarlets to keep in the hunt for the playoffs with a third successive derby win over Dragons.
Leinster | Draw | Ulster
Leinster’s European obliteration of Glasgow has made them a terrifying prospect for the remainder of the season, and they seem as likely as ever to break their trophy drought. While they may not have all their A-listers in tow for this one, they’ll look to draw on their 27-20 win in the November reverse in this derby clash with their northern rivals.
Ulster’s season has been far from their usual high standards, but their Champions Cup exit means the URC will be their main aim as they eye out an improvement on their current sixth-placed standing to seal a top eight spot. Unfortunately for them though, this trip to Dublin seems a tall order.
Verdict: Leinster on the board
Leinster to make it two from two over Ulster this season.
Zebre | Draw | Glasgow Warriors
In some respects, Zebre have been the team of the season after racking up 27-points to date thanks to some splendid attacking performances. Although the playoffs may be out of reach, Massimo Brunello and his team will be aiming to finish their campaign strongly as they look to build for the future.
Unfortunately for them though, they will this weekend welcome to the Sergio Langranchi a hurting and embarrassed Glasgow outfit who simply must cover some measure of lost pride after their 52-0 Champions Cup humbling in Dublin. Warriors should be as pumped as ever for this one.
Verdict: Glasgow on the minus
Dogged Warriors to rebound strongly in Parma.
