URC pause offers Stormers and Lions time to regroup after costly SA derby losses

The Stormers and Lions have a couple of weeks to lick their wounds in the United Rugby Championship (URC) following disappointing losses against the Sharks and Bulls as the competition takes a breather ahead of the start of the Six Nations.

The Cape side finds themselves with little momentum in the competition following two consecutive losses against the Sharks. It dropped the John Dobson-coached outfit into the third place on the log on 36 points, although they have a match in hand over the Glasgow Warriors (44) at the top and second-placed defending champions Leinster (40).

However, their inability to collect any points over the double coastal derbies could come back to haunt them later in the tournament. Some key injured players could return to the fold ahead of the next match, and this break may come at the perfect time for the inaugural champions.

They have some soul-searching to do, and can assess the damage, especially psychologically, that the two losses brought, but also put some plans in place for the next couple of SA derbies. They face the Lions (10th on 24 points) next, and will travel to Ellis Park for this duel on 28 February.

After being pummelled 52-17 by the Bulls, the Johannesburg side is suddenly in familiar territory: losing their way on the URC log halfway through the season.

So, when they take the field against the Sharks in three weeks (February 21), they have a mammoth task to build momentum against a high-flying, well-oiled machine. If the Lions can’t find a winning rhythm against the Durbanites, they risk falling further down the URC log, and with the Stormers visiting the week after, things will only get tougher.

The JP Pietersen-coached Sharks are in ninth place with 24 points, but still out of the play-off spots on the log; however, the last couple of weeks of victories will be a boost to their campaign following a very poor start. They are currently in ninth place thanks to the two bonus point wins over the Stormers, and that will bring plenty of momentum.

Following their match against the Lions, the Sharks will head to Loftus Versfeld, where the Bulls (seventh on 25 points) lie in wait following their resurgence under head coach Johan Ackermann. This match is set to be a humdinger, especially after the duel at Kings Park in December that the home side won 21-12.

Revenge will be at the top of the Bulls’ list; however, they will also want to demonstrate that they have settled into the Ackermann era and can build on their last two URC performances under his leadership.

They’ve shown some brilliant fight and will likely welcome back a few Springboks ahead of this match as they continue their push towards the top four.