SA teams will know where they stand in URC after this weekend

Stormers star Damian Willemse and Bulls back David Kriel square off during the first North-South derby of the season at the start of the year. Picture: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images South African teams will know exactly where they stand in the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoff race by the end of this weekend, which will see all outstanding games caught up. TheBulls and Stormers, as well as Ulster, Connacht, Edinburgh and Scarlets, all have a game in hand over the rest of the teams, but will catch that up when they battle it out on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday night Edinburgh host Ulster in what could be a blockbuster clash in Scotland, while Connacht welcome Scarlets to Ireland for their encounter. On Saturday afternoon in an early afternoon kick-off, the eagerly anticipatedNorth-South derbytakes place with an out-of-form Stormers taking on an in-form Bulls on the Highveld. In terms of the log, the Stormers and Ulster are the highest-placed of the teams in action, with the South African side fifth and the Irish side sixth, both locked on 36 points, and only separated by points difference.

The Bulls sit eighth, six points behind them, followed by Connacht in 10thon 25 points, Edinburgh 12thon 23 and Scarlets 15thon 16 points. It is thus a vitally important weekend for all teams in action bar Scarlets, who are arguably out of the playoff hunt and will only be playing for pride. But Connacht, five points off the top at, and Edinburgh a further two points back, will both feel that they can get themselves firmly into the hunt with wins on Friday night.

[paywall]

For the Bulls, although they are just in the playoff places, they know a loss this weekend would open the door for Connacht to potentially draw level on points with them, while Ospreys who are just one point off them will also be in striking distance. But a win over the Stormers would lift them above their Highveld rivals,the Lionswho occupy seventh place, three points ahead of them. The Stormers and Ulster will both be desperate to win as well, as losses for both will see the Bulls and Lions both in striking distance as they head into the last six pool games of the season.

[/paywall]