All three South African franchises in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship face their ultimate test this weekend as they enter the quarter-final stage with everything on the line.
The DHL Stormers will travel to Scotland to challenge defending champions Glasgow Warriors on Friday night, while the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks enjoy home advantage against Edinburgh and Munster respectively on Saturday.
For these South African sides, it’s simple: win or go home.
The Cape Town outfit arguably faces the most daunting task, traveling to Scotstoun Stadium where they’ll meet a Glasgow Warriors side that has won seven of nine home fixtures this season. The match kicks off at 20:35 (SA time) on Friday.
The Stormers will enter the clash with momentum, having won their last four URC matches in succession. However, they’ll need to overcome a troubling record against the Warriors, who have defeated them three straight times since their last victory in 2022.
The numbers suggest a close encounter: Glasgow have only won one more match than the Stormers this season, while the South Africans boast superior attacking statistics with 39 more points scored in their 18 pool matches. The Warriors, however, maintain the second-best defensive record in the tournament.
The Vodacom Bulls, runners-up in both 2022 and 2024, have the advantage of playing at their Loftus Versfeld fortress, where they’ve suffered just one home defeat all season. Victory would secure them a home semi-final – crucial for their ambitions of reaching a second consecutive Grand Final.
The men from Edinburgh will arrive in Pretoria with confidence, having defeated the Bulls 34-28 in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final earlier this season. The Scottish side has been in decent form, losing only once in their last five matches – a one-point defeat to the Sharks in Durban.
The Bulls enter Saturday’s 13:30 kickoff as favorites with seven straight URC victories and only four seasonal defeats. Their superior attack and defense statistics further strengthen their position, though Edinburgh’s recent performances suggest they’ll be no pushovers.
In Durban, the Hollywoodbets Sharks are targeting their first-ever URC semi-final appearance when they host 2023 champions Munster at 18:30 on Saturday.
Despite finishing third on the log table and having lost just once at home all season, the Sharks’ recent performances – a narrow 12-3 win against Scarlets and a hard-fought victory over Ospreys – suggest they’ll need to elevate their game significantly.
Munster, who finished sixth in the standings, have been marginally more effective on attack this season, though the Sharks hold the defensive edge. This sets up what promises to be an enthralling battle at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Weekend Fixtures:
The Stormers take on the Warriors on Friday 30 May at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow, with kickoff at 20:35 (SA Time). On Saturday 31 May the Bulls face Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria at 13:30., followed by the Sharks that face Munster at Kings Park in Durban at 18:30 (SA Time).
