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Vodacom URC shake-up on the cards

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The Vodacom United Rugby Championship log could see a big shake-up in the next few weeks as the Northern Hemisphere teams start heading south in six of the next seven rounds, which could give the South African sides exactly the boost they need to challenge for places in the top eight.

This round marks the first time teams from Europe will play in South Africa this season, and this is sure to spice up the competition further as the tournament reaches a climax.

The Cell C Sharks and Scarlets will kick off the action on Friday in Durban at 19h10, and on Saturday the Vodacom Bulls host Munster in Pretoria at 16h05.

In the two matches on Sunday, the Emirates Lions take on Cardiff Rugby at Emirates Airline Park at 16h00, and the DHL Stormers host Zebre Parma at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch at 18h05, in what will mark the first franchise game at the scenic ground.

The Cell C Sharks, who are the top ranked domestic team on the standings in eighth position, will be hunting their third win in a row and their fourth win of the year when they host the Scarlets at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, and they will be mindful of the fact that they could jump further up the standings if they come away with a win.

The Scarlets, meanwhile, will look to build on their victory against the Glasgow Warriors, but this will be a completely different test for the Welsh side, especially in the humid Durban conditions.

Siya Kolisi will lead the Durbanites in the absence of regular captain Lukhanyo Am as Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt made three changes to his team. Jeremy Ward comes in for Am, and in the pack Reniel Hugo replaces Ruben van Heerden at lock, and No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe switches positions with Phepsi Buthelezi.

“It’s a huge boost having Siya as captain, although it doesn’t really change much because he’s been playing a leadership role since he arrived at the Sharks,” explained fellow Springbok Sbu Nkosi.

“He’s been very positive and very involved, and I don’t think it will be a major shift for us because he’s been bringing that same energy all the time. The only thing that changes now is that he has the authority that comes with the title of captain.”

The Vodacom Bulls will face a big challenge against third-placed Munster at their fortress, Loftus Versfeld, on Saturday where the hosts will be determined to build on their morale-boosting away win against Zebre Parma, while Munster will go in search of their ninth victory of the season.

With six home games left this season and the Pretoria outfit having the luxury of an extra fixture or two in hand over the competition pacesetters, using their home ground advantage will be non-negotiable in the coming weeks.

Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Chris Smith looked forward to their outing against Munster and said: “I know most of the Irish internationals are away, but there are a few guys who have international caps who are not currently with the Irish squad.

“They are definitely a world-class outfit and have had a good run of recent results, hammering a few sides on the way. We have a tough challenge awaiting us this weekend.”

The Emirates Lions will target their clash against Cardiff – who have lost just one of their last five fixtures against South African opposition – to bounce back from a disappointing start to the year in which they suffered five defeats in a row, and the fact that they only trail the visitors by six points on the log will charge them up to change their fortunes in the competition.

With the Johannesburgers languishing at the lower end the table, Ivan van Rooyen’s team will be under immense pressure to win as they prepare for a good home stretch and make up much needed ground in the competition.

“We are pretty excited to face Cardiff this Sunday,” said Van Rooyen.

“We had prepared quite intensely for them previously, so this week has been focused on tweaking a few things having analysed their play over the past two months.

“It’s a home game so we are backing ourselves for a positive result. The guys are feeling upbeat attitude-wise, especially after our spirited performance away to Leinster a fortnight ago.”

The DHL Stormers will have their sights set on earning maximum points against Zebre Parma in their Sunday encounter at the Danie Craven Stadium – the 52nd different venue to host a Vodacom URC encounter – as they look to bounce back to the impressive form that saw them remain unbeaten this year until two weeks ago against Connacht in Galway.

In stark contrast, the Italians have had a disappointing season suffering defeats in all their matches to date, and while this will fuel their determination to hit back strongly this week, they will have to deliver a top-class performance to overpower the hosts.

Commenting on the clash, DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson said: “We want to make the most of the special atmosphere at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday and produce some good rugby. It is great to be back on home soil and the team has worked very hard this week. We know this is the start of an important run of home games for us and we want to make sure we are as accurate as possible in all areas.”

Match information:

Cell C Sharks v Scarlets

  • Date: Friday, 11 March
  • Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
  • SA Time: 19h10
  • Referee: Sam Grove-White
  • TV: SuperSport

Vodacom Bulls v Munster

  • Date: Saturday, 12 March
  • Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
  • SA Time: 16h05
  • Referee: Ben Whitehouse
  • TV: SuperSport

Emirates Lions v Cardiff

  • Date: Sunday, 13 March
  • Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
  • SA Time: 16h00
  • Referee: Chris Busby
  • TV: SuperSport

DHL Stormers v Zebre Parma

  • Date: Sunday, 13 March
  • Venue: Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
  • SA Time: 18h05
  • Referee: Adam Jones
  • TV: SuperSport

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.