Pressure rises with the URC SA Shield on the line
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The pressure on the local Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams will reach new heights this weekend as the competition strikes round 12, and the desperation to be in the top eight, combined with the battle for the SA Shield, set to drive the teams to come out on top in exciting local derbies.
The Lions will host the DHL Stormers in Johannesburg at 14h30 on Saturday, before the Vodacom Bulls take on the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Pretoria at 17h00.
Making these matches even more significant, a bonus-point victory for the 10th-placed Hollywoodbets Sharks will see them defend the SA Shield, however, should they register a win without a bonus point, and the seventh-placed Lions topple the DHL Stormers with a bonus point, points’ difference will determine which team lifts the cup.
The third-placed DHL Stormers and eighth-placed Vodacom Bulls both have a game in hand, as their postponed round eight derby will only be played on Saturday, 14 March, but with both teams currently under 10 points on the SA Shield standings, they will have to win both their matches with bonus points and ensure that the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Lions do not secure any log points to remain in the hunt for the title.
The match between the Lions and DHL Stormers at Ellis Park is expected to be a thriller as the hosts try to continue capitalising on their six home games in a row to improve their log position and remain in the top half of the standings.
However, the Capetonians will have all the motivation they need to bounce back from two successive defeats against the Hollywoodbets Sharks, which saw them drop from first to third place on the table.
While the Lions have only suffered one home defeat in the competition so far this season, they will be wary of the fact that the DHL Stormers have a solid track record away from home, with their only defeat being against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban. They will also draw inspiration from the fact that they defeated the Lions 34-27 in Cape Town earlier in the competition.
The Lions have a better attack despite trailing the DHL Stormers by four log positions, with 301 points scored to the visitors’ 274, but the Johannesburgers will have to step up their defence significantly to register a victory after conceding 49 tries to the visitors’ 20 so far this season.
At Loftus Versfeld, the Vodacom Bulls will target their third victory in a row when they line up against the Hollywoodbets Sharks, who will have their sights set on making up for their disappointing result against the Lions last week, as well as trying to clinch the SA Shield.
Adding to the visitors’ motivation, they will be determined to possibly force their way into the top eight with only six pool matches remaining after this clash, while they will also want to make amends for their 21-12 defeat against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban.
The men in blue will enter the match with a superior position on the table, as well as attack and defence statistics, with 263 points scored to the Durbanites’ 244, and 34 points fewer conceded, but anything can happen in local derbies, and given the high stakes for all the teams with the competition nearing the business end, it is expected to be a humdinger of a clash.
Match Information:
Lions v DHL Stormers
Date: Saturday, 28 February
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
SA Time: 14h30
Referee: Christopher Allison
TV: SuperSport
Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Date: Saturday, 28 February
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
SA Time: 17h00
Referee: Morne Ferreira
TV: SuperSport
