Opinion: South African teams exploit conditions to gain foothold in United Rugby Championship

Jon Cardinelli

Recent matches in South Africa have highlighted the unique challenges of the United Rugby Championship and shown why the top South African teams will be a force at the back end of the tournament.

The Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers hosted European clubs in the URC for the first time over the weekend. It was an immensely successful round from a South African perspective, as the four local franchises won all of their fixtures and combined for 19 out of a possible 20 table points.

The Sharks scored four tries in their 37-20 win against Scarlets in Durban. In the big match of the weekend, the Bulls claimed a narrow yet important 29-24 victory against Munster in Pretoria.

The Lions were good enough to bank a 37-20 bonus-point win over Cardiff in Johannesburg, while the Stormers ran in nine tries in their 55-7 hammering of Zebre Parma in Stellenbosch.

Standards in South African rugby remain high

None of those performances were particularly polished, and some of those South African teams have come in for criticism for poor game management and finishing in subsequent days.

Such criticism, of course, is a sure sign that the standards in South African rugby remain high. We should expect sharper showings from these teams when they host other European clubs over the next seven weeks.

The inaugural United Rugby Championship has presented a number of challenges to all teams based across the various countries. Apart from a series of Covid-19 setbacks, most sides have battled to adapt to foreign conditions – and in the case of South African teams, referee interpretations – when travelling to a different hemisphere.

This past weekend, we finally got to see clubs from Ireland, Wales and Italy in action down south. As expected, the searing summer heat took its toll on the visiting clubs, as did the altitude at venues such as Loftus Versfeld and Ellis Park.

Perhaps the visiting sides will learn from these experiences and make the necessary adjustments over the next few weeks to bank valuable points. Perhaps the Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Italian teams will adapt a lot quicker than the South African franchises did when they toured Europe at the end of last year, and more recently.

Then again, perhaps the European sides will take more time to come to grips with the heat and altitude in South Africa. They may be vulnerable during this period of adjustment, and it is here where the local teams must take full advantage.

Last week, some doubted whether the Bulls had the class to overcome a more fancied Munster side at Loftus. After the game, however, the only disappointment was over an erratic and ill-disciplined second-half showing, which ultimately cost the home team a bonus point for four tries.

A more consistent performance over the next few weeks will ensure that the Bulls continue to climb the table. Jake White’s team should fancy their chances against the Scarlets and Dragons. Having built up some momentum, they may surprise Ulster, Benetton and Glasgow, teams that have not visited Loftus previously.

Munster will be determined to prove a point when they take on the Lions at Ellis Park this week. The Lions, however, used the conditions to their advantage in the big win over Cardiff last Sunday. If they don’t claim a big scalp this weekend, they may well take down Ospreys, Edinburgh, Connacht and Benetton.

As things stand, the Sharks are in sixth place on the URC table while the Stormers are in eighth. Both are in a position to qualify for the play-offs and for next season’s Champions Cup, as the Sharks are the top team in the South African pool and the Stormers are among the top-ranked sides that will advance to the elite tournament.

The next block of matches is of vital importance to these teams. There will be an opportunity to gather points as visiting European sides adjust to South African conditions.

The Sharks should be targeting a bonus-point win against Zebre, who were completely outclassed by the Stormers last week. Edinburgh and Leinster will demand more of the Sharks in future rounds, but again, the conditions may give the local team an edge. Playing at home, the Sharks should fancy their chances against the Dragons and Connacht.

The Stormers have enjoyed a resurgence over the past few months, and may even surpass the Sharks at the top of the South African standings if a few results go their way. After hosting Cardiff, Ulster and the Ospreys, they will have two big fixtures against Glasgow and Leinster. The latter two contests could make or break their campaign, but they will be encouraged to know both fixtures will be staged in Cape Town.

It’s fair to say that the URC has come to life after the recent round of fixtures. The European clubs will face a stern test over the next couple of months in South Africa. The play-off picture could change dramatically if the visiting teams fail to adapt.

READ MORE: Who’s hot and who’s not: Six Nations stars, Rugby World Cup ticket, Zebre Parma and two avoidable red cards