Waging war on two fronts for the first time, SA coaches are having to juggle Vodacom United Rugby Championship aspirations with the lure of European Cup glory – what would you target?
The Lions, currently 12th on the overall URC log, need to jump four spots to make the Final 8 – a task that is not impossible, but highly unlikely given that – apart from last-placed Zebre – the Lions’ remaining opponents are ranked higher, with four of the teams already in the top six.
However, the Lions are currently second in their Challenge Cup Pool B standings with two games remaining before the round of 16.
They face a tough challenge in playing Stade Francais this weekend in Paris, with a victory in their last pool fixture against Dragons looking more likely.
READ: Hungry Sharks locked on Euro prey
The Sharks are currently in ninth, just outside the URC Final 8, but face stern competition in the coming weeks. They will lock horns with Edinburgh, the Stormers twice, the Lions, Ulster, Scarlets, Benetton and Munster.
In the Champions Cup, the Sharks are fourth with two fixtures remaining, Bordeaux at home and Harlequins at Twickenham.
They will aim for back-to-back victories, but victory against Bordeaux will be the main priority with a successful outing almost surely securing their spot in the round of 16.
VOTE BELOW
The Vodacom Bulls, seemingly on the road to URC recovery following a comprehensive victory over the Dragons, currently sit third on the log, just one place behind the Stormers.
In their remaining URC matches, victory against Scarlets, the Lions and Zebre will be non-negotiable, and a Stormers clash at Loftus will have the Bulls eyeing revenge.
READ: Stormers work on ‘crazy’ system errors
Although the Bulls are seventh in their Champions Cup Pool A standings, a home victory against Exeter this Saturday can easily propel the Pretoria side back into possible round of 16 qualification and they’ll be backing themselves to put away a lacklustre Lyon in their final pool game.
The Stormers, currently second in the URC and fifth in their Pool B Champions Cup standings, will certainly be looking to bring a maiden Champions Cup home along with a second URC title.
The reigning URC champs have the most difficult run of opponents of any South African team when the URC resumes: Ulster, the Sharks twice, the Bulls, Leinster, Munster and Benetton.
Qualification for the round of 16 looks likely for the Stormers as they’ll be eyeing an away victory against an 11th-placed London Irish before facing 8th-placed Clermont at home, making qualification for the knockout-stages in both competitions within reach.