SA teams face bumpy road to the URC final

All three qualifying South African teams face a stiff road to the United Rugby Championship (URC) final, if they are to make it a fourth consecutive season with an SA team in the showpiece match.

In the inaugural URC season in 2021-22, the Stormers and Bulls made it to the finale, with the Stormers lifting the title after a tight encounter.

The defending champs hosted their second consecutive final in Cape Town in season two, but were upstaged by Irish giants Munster in a breathtaking spectacle in front of over 56,000 fans, which remains a URC attendance record.

It was the Bulls’ turn to host a final in season three, but it was again a visiting team that came out on top, as Glasgow Warriors upset a partisan home crowd of over 50,000 spectators, to clinch the title.

It will now once again take an upset or two if a South African side is to host a fourth consecutive URC final in the country, after an Irish team topped the log at the end of the pool phase.

The strongest team in the URC, Leinster, topped the standings in season one and two, but were dumped out in the semis on their home turf by the Bulls and Munster respectively, and they again finished top this season so will host the final if they manage to get that far this time.

In season three Munster finished top and were eliminated by eventual champions, Glasgow, in the semifinals.

Bulls run

The Bulls arguably have the easiest run of the SA franchises, as they will host at least two playoffs if they make it to the semis, but face a tricky encounter against Scottish side Edinburgh to get there.

If they progress they would host either a blockbuster semi against coastal rivals, the Sharks, or Munster, who clash in their quarterfinal in Durban on Saturday.

The Stormers have the toughest task of the lot, another away clash with Glasgow in Scotland, who they went down to at the same stage last season.

The Cape side will, however, have plenty of confidence after a strong end to the URC pool phase saw them win six of their last seven games, including four in a row to finish.

Add to that Glasgow’s poor form, which saw them lose their last three URC pool games, and the Stormers will certainly fancy their chances away from home.

If they were to upset the Scottish defending champions on their home turf that would likely send them over to Dublin to meet Leinster, who face Welsh side Scarlets in their quarterfinal meeting.

In all, there are no easy games for the SA teams in this season’s knockouts, but the Bulls will be confident of their chances and will hope for a bit of assistance from someone to help them host a second consecutive URC final.