After taking a Christmas break, the Sharks host the Lions in Durban on Saturday while the Vodacom Bulls travel to Cape Town to face the Stormers. Munster had the chance to leapfrog the log-leading Stormers when they hosted arch-rivals Leinster at Thomond Park this past weekend, but were edged 13-8. However, a losing bonus point was enough to lift them above Cardiff (who beat the Dragons 22-19) into second place on points difference.
Both teams have 30 log points – two behind the Stormers – but have played one match more. The Glasgow Warriors remain fourth after a 21-3 win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield. In other results, the Ospreys beat the Scarlets 26-19 in Llanelli, visitors Benetton defeated Zebre 37-23 and Ulster overcame Connacht 29-24 in Galway.
All 16 teams will be in action this weekend and South African fans can look forward to two spicy local derbies. The Stormers are unbeaten this season, having won seven from seven in the URC and with a mammoth points difference of 131 (only one other team, Glasgow, has hit three figures). An injury-depleted Stormers were still too strong for a game Lions side in round seven in Cape Town, winning 34-27.
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Coach John Dobson could welcome back flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and utility back Damian Willemse for the clash against the Bulls at what is expected to be a packed Cape Town Stadium for one of the highlights on the local rugby calendar. The Bulls arrive in Cape Town on a five-match losing streak in all competitions and 10th on the URC log. A 21-12 loss to the Sharks in Durban in round seven was the trigger for the Bulls hierarchy to jettison assistant coaches Andries Bekker and Chris Rossouw, with Neil de Bruin coming in and several Springbok coaches also providing short-term support to head coach Johan Ackermann.
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