SA derbies loom as Bulls, Stormers and Sharks lead URC log
Three South African sides are near the top of the URC log, but a run of local derbies from December could reshape the season for all four.
The Bulls, Stormers and Sharks are second, third and fourth on the United Rugby Championship (URC) log after five rounds, while the Lions are 13th, according to The Citizen.
All three of the leading South African sides have won four matches and lost one. The Bulls and Stormers are both on 21 points, with the Bulls ahead on points difference. The Sharks have 19 points, having collected fewer bonus points. The Lions have nine points, the same as they had after two rounds, when they had two home wins. They have since lost three matches in a row.
Derbies after the November break
The South African teams return to URC action on the first weekend of December, after the November international break. The highveld derby and the coastal derby are both on that weekend’s programme, and they are the first of three rounds packed with local derbies stretching into the new year.
Each team has already played one derby, in round three. The Bulls beat the Lions 57-15 at Loftus, and the Stormers won 37-22 in Cape Town. This time the Lions and the Sharks will be the hosts.
The Lions will want to turn their form around, and The Citizen noted that the Bulls have never lost at Ellis Park in five previous URC meetings there.
What is at stake
Last season the Lions won four of their six local derbies and lifted the SA Shield. That helped them reach the URC top eight for the first time. The report said they will need a similar return this season after a mixed start.
The other three teams also have reasons to take the derbies seriously. A higher finish on the log means more home knockout matches at the end of the season. The Stormers have already improved on last season, when they lost both derbies against the Sharks.
The later fixtures are also set. The Stormers host the Lions and the Bulls in Cape Town in mid-December and at the start of January. The Sharks host the Bulls first and then the Lions in Durban.
What this means for fans
- South African URC action resumes on the first weekend of December.
- Both the highveld and coastal derbies are played that weekend.
- Cape Town and Durban host the next two rounds of derbies, from mid-December into early January.
This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.
