RUGBY WRAP: Stormers reach new heights at Loftus, plus the latest from the Gallagher Premiership and Top 14

URC R14: Stormers all but seal second-straight SA Shield title in Pretoria

The Stormers’ exceptional 23-19 win over the Bulls at a jam-packed Loftus Versfeld on Saturday has effectively guaranteed them their second consecutive SA Shield title and cemented their status as the country’s leading rugby franchise. Despite their remarkable URC championship triumph last season, given the financial muscle at the Sharks and formidable Jake White regime at the Bulls, many questioned whether John Dobson’s men could maintain their status as the Republic’s best in their second URC campaign.

After their latest victory though, which backed up a 46-19 blowout win in Durban a fortnight earlier, those doubts have been emphatically put to bed.

What makes the result even more significant is the fact that the attendance at Loftus (41,205) was the biggest the stadium has seen since the legendary 2009 Super 14 final. It is also the Capetonians’ fifth win over the Bulls on the trot. They remain second with the men in blue occupying sixth.

URC R14: Sharks outclass Lions in Joburg

The Sharks rebounded from their embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Stormers by putting the Lions away 29-7 at Emirates Airline Park in torrential conditions on Saturday. The Durbanites, spearheaded by the boot of in-form Curwin Bosch, are seventh and trail the Bulls by three-points albeit having played one game less. The defeat was the Lions’ eighth this season and saw them drop to 14^th.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Glasgow reduced the gap on Ulster (third) to a single point after a 17-11 victory over the Northern Irishmen at the Scotstoun, Munster smacked Ospreys 58-3 at Thomond Park, Connacht had to work hard for a 57-34 win at Zebre, hosts Cardiff held off Benetton 30-13, Scarlets eased past Edinburgh 42-14 in Llanelli and Leinster comprehensively outplayed Dragons 43-14 in Dublin.

Prem R14: Defending champs knock over runaway log-leaders

Leicester defeated Saracens 24-18 at Welford Road on Sunday to keep alive their playoff prospects. Eighth-placed Tigers were buoyed by a sparkling showing by Jasper Wiese, as well as 14-points from Handre Pollard, to go within three of the semi-final spots. Leicester skipper Hanro Liebenberg contributed a whopping 11-tackles and two turnovers in the win.

In other results, Friday saw Bristol beat Falcons 30-12 at Ashton Gate and Gloucester edge Harlequins 28-26 at the Kingsholm, while Saints (third) beat second-placed Sale 38-34 in a high-scoring thriller at Franklin’s Gardens and London Irish claimed a 25-10 win at Bath on Saturday.

Top 14 R18: Leaders Toulouse tripped up at Toulon

Championship leaders Toulouse fell 6-17 against Toulon at the Stade Mayol on Saturday to leave them seven-points clear of second-placed Stade Francais. Stade could only grab a losing bonus-point themselves in a 26-29 defeat at Bayonne on the same day, while European champions La Rochelle (fourth) saw off the challenge of Castres 32-17 at the Pierre-Fabre.

Elsewhere, hosts Lyon got the better of defending champs Montpellier 31-21, Perpignan bagged a 49-29 win over Pau at the Stade Aime Giral, Racing beat Brive 34-24 at La Defense Arena and Clermont lost 8-18 at Bordeaux.