It’s derby weekend in the seventh round of the URC, with the Hollywoodbets Sharks hosting the Bulls in Durban and the Lions heading to the Mother City for a tie with John Dobson’s excellent Stormers outfit.
Friday 19 December
Leinster | Draw | Ulster
Since their loss to Munster in October, Leinster have gone on to win four successive games in all comps, and have begun to find their groove after an indifferent opening to their URC campaign. With Rieko Ioane enjoying a strong start to his time in Leinster blue, things are looking up for the sixth-placed side ahead of the arrival of the Belfastians.
Richie Murphy’s Ulster are placed fourth, five points ahead of their opponents this week following a highly positive start to the new term that has already included four URC wins from five. Victory this weekend would surely be the Northern Irish club’s finest so far though, but while they will take heart from the one-point win they secured in Dublin in two Januarys ago, it may prove a bridge too far this time around.
Verdict: Leinster on the board
Cardiff | Draw | Scarlets
Fresh off their Challenge Cup win over Ulster, Cardiff will be eager to maintain the momentum against Welsh rivals Scarlets in the capital on Friday. Despite still being coachless, the Blue and Blacks have been purring along just fine, with five wins from their opening six URC encounters seeing them sit pretty in second place overall. Scarlets though have proven themselves to be tricky customers for the club, with the men from Llanelli having claimed four from the last five head-to-heads. That said, the hosts should be too good here.
Verdict: Cardiff on the minus
Saturday 20 December
Stormers | Draw | Lions
The log-leading Stormers have been on another level this season, winning all eight of their matches both domestically and in the Champions Cup and already looking like legit championship contenders on both fronts. The players’ sense of pride in the jersey has always been a hallmark of the John Dobson era, but things have definitely intensified over the course of the past few months.
The Lions meanwhile have started well enough in the URC, currently seventh with three wins from six, though they will travel to south off the back of two disappointing losses in the Challenge Cup that has stymied their momentum somewhat. Considering the form the Capetonians are in at present though, they don’t seem likely to compete over the course of the full eighty.
Verdict: Stormers on the minus
Benetton | Draw | Zebre
The first Italian derby of the season gets underway in Treviso here in a fixture that has been dominated by Benetton of late, with five wins on the spin in the five previous head-to-heads. This fixture though may well see a change of fortunes, with Zebre currently one point and one place above their rivals, having claimed the same amount of wins (two) from their six opening URC contests. The Parma outfit have been much-improved this term and could well spring a surprise here to end their miserable derby run.
Verdict: Zebre on the board
Glasgow Warriors | Draw | Edinburgh
Glasgow are riding high following their awesome come-from-behind win over mighty Toulouse at the Scotstoun in last week’s Champions Cup tie, which could spell bad news for the visitors on Saturday. Franco Smith’s charges have been holding onto the 1872 Cup for the past three years and that trend could continue this season – though it should be another close affair given what Sean Everitt’s men have been producing of late.
Verdict: Warriors on the board
Hollywoodbets Sharks | Draw | Bulls
The Hollywoodbets Sharks looked so much better in their recent win over Saracens and will be as fired up as ever for this Sharks Fest date with old foes the Bulls in Durban. With JP Pietersen now steering the ship, fans of the franchise will be hoping the freshness in the camp can power them to another win at the Tank.
Johan Ackermann’s men have been leaking tries this season and will be low on confidence when they arrive on the east coast after losing each of their last four game in all competitions. Without the services of injured Marcell Coetzee, Zak Burger, Kade Wolhuter and PA van Niekerk, they could be light on ammo which could undermine their challenge.
Verdict: Hollywoodbets Sharks on the minus
Ospreys | Draw | Munster
Rocked by the news that Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake will both be departing for Gloucester at season’s end, Ospreys will be hoping the talented duo can at least begin their long goodbye with a performance befitting of their quality against Munster here. However, with the Red Army having claimed wins in each of their last four head-to-heads, and riding high in third place on the log, things aren’t looking too optimistic.
Verdict: Munster on the minus
Dragons | Draw | Connacht
Despite currently lying in ninth, Connacht are fast improving under Stuart Lancaster and should be a lot higher come season’s end. They showed some superb attacking flair against admittedly weaker opposition in Black Lion during the Challenge Cup recently, but that should still provide them with enough confident to see off winless Dragons in Newport.
Verdict: Connacht on the minus
