The Stormers and Lions delivered vital derby victories over the weekend, strengthening their push for a place in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs. Meanwhile, the Bulls faltered at home, but results elsewhere kept them in contention near the top of the standings.

The unpredictable nature of the URC was on full display as five of the top six teams suffered defeats. With just five points separating seventh place from 15th, the battle for playoff spots remains intense.

Stormers End Losing Streak in Loftus Thriller

The Stormers snapped a three-match losing run with a gritty 19-16 win over the Bulls at Loftus. Heavy rain delayed kick-off for over an hour, but the Cape side managed to grind out a crucial result. Despite the victory, they dropped two places in the standings due to tiebreakers, now sitting level on 28 points with four other teams.

Their focus now shifts to a two-game tour, where they will face the Scarlets on 22 March before taking on Ulster on 28 March. These fixtures will be crucial in determining their playoff fate.

Bulls Stumble at Home as Leinster Looms

Lock Cobus Wiese spoke ahead of the North-South derby about making Loftus Versfeld an intimidating venue again, but the Bulls’ second home loss in three matches suggests they still have work to do. A silver lining for Jake White’s side is that second-placed Glasgow also slipped up, meaning the Bulls remain just three points adrift of them on the log.

A tough challenge awaits as they prepare to host unbeaten Leinster on 22 March, a match that could define their season.

Lions Surge Up the Log with Bonus-Point Victory

The Lions produced one of their best performances of the season, securing a 38-14 bonus-point victory over the Sharks at Ellis Park. The result temporarily lifted them from 12th to 8th place, though later results saw them settle at 9th, just one point behind Connacht.

Crucially, the Lions have a game in hand and will catch up this weekend in a rescheduled Round 1 clash against the Sharks at Kings Park. A bonus-point win could see them leap as high as 5th place, keeping their playoff aspirations firmly alive.

Sharks Face Must-Win Clash After Lions Setback

The Sharks struggled to replicate their Loftus heroics, delivering an uninspired performance against the Lions. Head coach John Plumtree was critical of his side, admitting they lacked the mental sharpness required. He expects a big response when they host the Lions on 8 March in a fixture that could reshape their season.

The Sharks sit seven points behind the third-placed Bulls, but with a game in hand, they could close that gap significantly. More importantly, victory would put them in prime position to win the SA Shield for the first time, with a fourth derby triumph lifting them above the Stormers.

SA Shield Standings (After Round 12)

(Matches played, log points)

• Stormers (6, 18)
• Bulls (6, 17)
• Sharks (5, 14)
• Lions (5, 9)

Round 12 Results

• Munster 28-34 Edinburgh
• Zebre 31-21 Dragons
• Lions 38-14 Sharks
• Bulls 16-19 Stormers
• Leinster 42-24 Cardiff
• Ulster 30-28 Scarlets
• Connacht 38-30 Benetton
• Glasgow 31-32 Ospreys

Upcoming Fixtures

Rescheduled Round 1 Fixture (8 March)

• Sharks vs Lions (2pm)

Round 13 Fixtures

21 March

• Cardiff vs Lions (9.35pm)
• Glasgow vs Munster (9.35pm)

22 March

• Sharks vs Zebre (2.45pm)
• Benetton vs Edinburgh (5pm)
• Bulls vs Leinster (5pm)
• Scarlets vs Stormers (5pm)
• Dragons vs Ulster (7.15pm)
• Ospreys vs Connacht (7.15pm)

The race for the URC playoffs remains wide open, and with crucial matches ahead, the South African teams will be looking to make their mark in the final stretch of the season.