The DHL Stormers can take a major step towards reviving their Vodacom URC playoffs prospects when they host Edinburgh on Saturday after a pause in the competition.
The four South African teams return to action following a two-week break, with the Stormers set to tackle the Scottish outfit at Cape Town Stadium.
The Sharks face an Ulster side boasting a familiar face in Springbok double world champion Steven Kitshoff at Kings Park, while the Lions tackle Connacht in Galway before the Bulls lock horns with Welsh club Dragons at Rodney Parade.
Prior to the break, the Bulls kept themselves firmly in the title hunt with seven rounds left in the league stage of the competition by defeating the Stormers 40-22 in Pretoria.
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The Sharks’ disappointing campaign, meanwhile, continued as John Plumtree’s charges were thrashed 40-10 by the Lions at Ellis Park.
Following the round 11 results, Leinster remained at the summit of the standings on 44 points, while the Bulls moved one spot up (second on 40) but the Stormers slipped out of the top eight to ninth.
The Lions are in 11th spot and trail the men from Cape Town by just one point, as the Sharks languish at the foot of the table after 10 defeats from 11 matches.
In the SA Shield, the Bulls lead the charge on 20 points after five derbies. The final round of SA derbies will bring an end to the round-robin phase.
Round 12 fixtures:
Friday, 22 March
Glasgow vs Cardiff (9:35pm)
Ospreys vs Munster (9:35pm)
Saturday, 23 March
Sharks vs Ulster (3pm)
Scarlets vs Benetton (5pm)
Stormers vs Edinburgh (5:05pm)
Connacht vs Lions (7:15pm)
Dragons vs Bulls (9:35pm)
Zebre vs Leinster (9:35pm)
Photo: Nokwanda Zondi/BackpagePix
The post State of the URC: Stormers locked on Edinburgh appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
