State of the URC: Lethal Lions save SA's blushes
22/04/2024 06:15
The Lions were the only SA team to win in round 14 of the Vodacom URC, with the DHL Stormers and Bulls needing a huge response this week in the race for a home playoff.
Ivan van Rooyen's charges boosted their playoff hopes with a standout performance against log-leaders Leinster – a resounding 44-12 victory at Ellis Park on Saturday.
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There was disappointment for the remaining local sides – the Sharks lost 21-10 at the Glasgow Warriors on Friday night, before Munster edged a 14-man Bulls outfit 27-22 in Pretoria, and the Stormers went down 27-21 to Ospreys at Cape Town Stadium.
The Bulls have dropped to fourth place on the standings with 46 points – nine behind Leinster (54) – while the Stormers fell to sixth. The 11th-placed Lions on 39 points are still in range of a possible quarter-final finish, as one of four teams that includes Edinburgh in eighth. The Sharks remain in 13th spot with 18 points.
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Second-placed Glasgow moved to within one point of Leinster with victory against the Sharks, as Ospreys cemented their position at seventh by handing the Stormers their first home defeat of the competition this season. Defending champions Munster and Benetton, meanwhile, occupy third and fifth respectively.
With only four rounds of the regular season remaining, the competition is on course for a thrilling finish and going into round 15, the Sharks travel to face Scarlets in Wales on Friday.
Saturday's schedule has the Bulls take on Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld, the Lions host defending champions Munster in Johannesburg and the Stormers lock horns with Leinster in the Mother City.
HIGHLIGHTS: Lions lash Leinster
Round 14 results:
Ulster 19-17 Cardiff
Glasgow 21-10 Sharks
Benetton 36-19 Dragons
Lions 44-12 Leinster
Bulls 22-27 Munster
Stormers 21-27 Ospreys
Edinburgh 43-18 Scarlets
Connacht 54-16 Zebre
Round 15 fixtures:
Friday, 26 April
Ulster vs Benetton (8:35pm)
Scarlets vs Sharks (8:35pm)
Saturday, 27 April
Zebre vs Glasgow (2pm)
Bulls vs Ospreys (3pm)
Cardiff vs Edinburgh (4:05pm)
Lions vs Munster (5pm)
Stormers vs Leinster (7:05pm)
Dragons vs Connacht (9pm)
Photo: @LionsRugbyCo/Twitter
The post State of the URC: Lethal Lions save SA's blushes appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
