South Africa’s four Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) teams face a significant test this weekend as they all play away for the first time this season. These matches could provide a crucial confidence boost if they manage to secure positive results.
The weekend’s action kicks off on Saturday with Benetton hosting the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Italy. Following this, the DHL Stormers will face Edinburgh in Scotland, and the Vodacom Bulls will take on Ospreys in Wales. The final match of the round will see the Emirates Lions clash with the Dragons in Newport, Wales, on Sunday. The outcomes of these fixtures could have a considerable impact on the standings, with only six points separating second-placed Glasgow Warriors and 13th-placed Ulster.
The Sharks are aiming for their second win on tour after losing by just six points in their opening match against Connacht but rebounding with a gritty 33-30 victory against the Dragons last week. This win should give them confidence heading into their match against Benetton, who currently sit at the bottom of the table. Benetton have struggled this season, drawing 30-30 against the Scarlets in their opener before suffering heavy defeats to Glasgow and Leinster. The Sharks have a notable advantage, having scored 28 more points than Benetton in two matches, while also conceding fewer points (66 compared to Benetton’s 97). However, the Sharks will be aware that they have lost their last two encounters with Benetton in Italy, the most recent by just one point in May. Their only win against the Italians came in Durban in 2022.
In Scotland, Edinburgh will be motivated to secure their first win of the season after returning home from a two-week tour of South Africa. They narrowly lost to Leinster by two points in their opening home game. Meanwhile, the DHL Stormers will be looking to end their tour on a high after showing resilience in their victory over Zebre Parma last week. The Stormers will rely on their strong defense, which has conceded 68 fewer points than Edinburgh, despite Edinburgh having played one more game. The Stormers have never lost to Edinburgh in the competition, with three wins and a 20-20 draw in 2021.
The Vodacom Bulls, fresh off two victories, will begin their tour against an Ospreys side that suffered a demoralizing 23-0 defeat to Munster last week. The Bulls have collected nearly a full house of points in their first two matches, but they will be cautious of Ospreys, who won their season opener by two points against the Dragons and then defeated the Stormers 37-24. Despite Ospreys’ potential, the Bulls will be driven to continue their winning streak and aim to stay within the top eight on the table. A victory against Ospreys would put them in a strong position for their upcoming matches against the Scarlets and Benetton, both currently ranked in the bottom three.
The Emirates Lions, currently the highest-ranked South African team in sixth place, will face the Dragons in Newport on Sunday. With two bonus-point wins from two matches, the Lions are keen to maintain their momentum. However, the Dragons have shown promise, losing by only two points to Ospreys and narrowly missing out on a win against the Sharks last week. Their only major defeat came against Leinster. The Lions will not underestimate the Dragons but will be confident heading into the game, having scored 90 points in two matches compared to the Dragons’ 59 in three. Additionally, the Lions have conceded 45 fewer points than the Welsh side. The Lions have won all three of their matches against the Dragons since 2022, a record they will look to extend.
Match details:
Benetton vs Hollywoodbets Sharks
Date: Saturday, 12 October
Venue: Stadio Monigo, Treviso
SA Time: 16h00
Referee: Sam Grove-White
Edinburgh vs DHL Stormers
Date: Saturday, 12 October
Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
SA Time: 18h15
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Ospreys vs Vodacom Bulls
Date: Saturday, 12 October
Venue: Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea
SA Time: 20h35
Referee: Eoghan Cross
Dragons vs Emirates Lions
Date: Sunday, 13 October
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
SA Time: 15h30
Referee: Fillipo Russo
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