The DHL Stormers renew hostilities with La Rochelle as John Dobson’s charges brace for a titanic showdown in Cape Town against the Champions Cup title-holders on Saturday.

After a weekend of thrilling Vodacom URC round 13 action, all five SA teams gear up for their second taste of European cup playoffs this week.

The Stormers and La Rochelle lock horns in a replay of their 16 December meeting at Cape Town Stadium, won by the hosts, with the Capetonians having earned the right to host a last-16 tie for the second successive season after finishing second in Pool 4.

Dobson’s men enter the match on the back of a 13-7 win over Edinburgh in the URC on Saturday, but can expect a stern test from the back-to-back European champions, who beat Oyonnax last week for a third win in five outings in the Top 14.

The Vodacom Bulls host their first playoff in the Champions Cup when they welcome Lyon to Loftus Versfeld. The Pretoria outfit must rebound from a 47-14 defeat by Leinster in Dublin, as well as exact revenge for a narrow loss in the group stages at Lyon.

And Jake White’s troops will fancy their chances, with the French club languishing at the foot of the Top 14 standings.

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In a wrap of the remaining sides in the last 16 of the Champions Cup, URC leaders Leinster tackle Leicester Tigers, while URC champions Munster face Premiership front-runners Northampton Saints before Siya Kolisi’s Racing 92 and Toulouse bring the curtain down in an all-French affair.

Fresh from a 23-13 victory over Edinburgh in Durban, the Sharks will make their maiden appearance in the knockout stage of the Challenge Cup when they face fellow URC opponents Zebre Parma at Kings Park on Sunday.

The Durbanites, who finished as the top-ranked team in Pool 1, are riding a wave of confidence after claiming back-to-back wins in the URC while basement dwellers Zebre are 0-8 since their shock win over John Plumtree’s men on 10 November in Italy.

The Cheetahs and Lions advanced to the playoffs finishing third and fourth in their groups, respectively, and both will take to the road in the knockout stage.

After poor handling and a lack of execution was punished by Ospreys in a 36-21 loss in Wales, the Lions will tackle Benetton – who edged Connacht on Saturday to end a run of three defeats for the Italians – in Treviso.

Under the stewardship of new head coach Izak van der Westhuizen, the Cheetahs face Clermont at Gabriel Montpied Stadium following two big wins in the inaugural SA Cup, and will be licking their lips for a Christophe Urios-coached team that won one in four league matches in March.

Champions Cup last 16 fixtures

Friday, 5 April
Harlequins vs Glasgow Warriors (9pm)

Saturday, 6 April
Bulls vs Lyon (1.30pm)
Exeter vs Bath (4pm)
Stormers vs La Rochelle (4pm)
Bordeaux Begles vs Saracens (6:30pm)
Leinster vs Leicester (9pm)

Sunday, 7 April
Northampton vs Munster (1:30pm)
Toulouse vs Racing 92 (4pm)

Challenge Cup last 16 fixtures

Friday, 5 April
Gloucester vs Castres (9pm)

Saturday, 6 April
Clermont vs Cheetahs (1.30pm)
Benetton vs Lions (6:30pm)
Edinburgh vs Bayonne (9pm)
Ospreys vs Sale Sharks (9pm)

Sunday, 7 April
Montpellier vs Ulster (1:30pm)
Sharks vs Zebre (4pm)
Pau vs Connacht (6:30pm)

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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