The unbeaten Lions are licking their lips for a top-of-the-table Vodacom URC clash this week, while the DHL Stormers and Sharks look to continue their winning ways at home.
It was a ‘Super Saturday’ in round 5 of the competition for the three SA teams – the Lions edging Zebre 10-9 in Parma, while the Sharks beat defending champions, the Glasgow Warriors 28-24 at Kings Park, before the Stormers notched their first win over Munster with a 34-19 bonus-point victory in Cape Town.
However, a dubious red card for Johan Grobbelaar and a string of missed opportunities cost the Vodacom Bulls against the Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday as the Herd lost 23-22, which marked their first defeat of the URC season.
These results saw the Lions and Bulls end the round in the top four on the overall standings, while the Stormers and Sharks climbed to 12th and 13th place, respectively.
Meanwhile, Springbok lock RG Snyman was named Man of the Match as Leinster thrashed Connacht for a fifth successive bonus-point victory, powering Leo Cullen’s men seven points clear of the Lions at the summit.
Elsewhere, Edinburgh and Benetton continued their revivals with victories over Cardiff and the Dragons, respectively. In the weekend’s remaining match, Ulster put the Ospreys to the sword, which left the Welsh outfit at the foot of the table.
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It’s the final round of the opening block of URC matches for 2024-25 this weekend before the international break and there’s no debate over the pick of the fixtures, as leaders Leinster take on the second-placed Lions at Aviva Stadium.
Ivan van Rooyen’s charges will fancy their chances in Dublin, the Pride having outscored Leinster six tries to two in a commanding victory at Ellis Park in round 14 last season.
The Bulls bring the curtain down on a 1-1 win-loss European tour with a trip to Benetton, having last beaten the Italian outfit in a 2023-24 quarter-final in Pretoria.
The Stormers host Glasgow, looking for their first win over the Scottish club in three URC clashes, while the Sharks welcome Munster, hoping to improve on two defeats at Thomond Park and a 22-22 draw in Durban.
Round 5 results:
Ulster 36-12 Ospreys
Scarlets 23-22 Bulls
Zebre 9-10 Lions
Sharks 28-24 Glasgow
Stormers 34-19 Munster
Edinburgh 27-8 Cardiff
Dragons 21-31 Benetton
Connacht 12-33 Leinster
Round 6 fixtures:
Friday, 25 October
Benetton vs Bulls (8:35pm)
Scarlets vs Zebre (8:35pm)
Saturday, 26 October
Stormers vs Glasgow (1:45pm)
Ospreys vs Edinburgh (4pm)
Sharks vs Munster (4pm)
Leinster vs Lions (6:15pm)
Cardiff vs Ulster (8:35pm)
Connacht vs Dragons (8:35pm)
Photo: Roberto Bregani/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
