South African Rugby season is drawing to a close and the respective teams have been focused on competing to stay in the league. It is survival of the fittest. As the United Rugby Championship (URC) enters the final stage of the pool phase, with just two regular season rounds remaining, the stakes remain high. When it comes to the nation’s competitive rugby teams only the sharks are out of the running for a playoff berth, while the Bulls have the luxury of two home games to finish off the league stages.
The Stormers and Lions finish the round-Robin stage with the challenging tours against teams firmly in the playoff race, but they are both currently in the main three on the log (list).
Stormers (1st on the log, 56 pts): The Cape side are currently leading the pack. A win in Belfast would effectively lock in a top-two finish, ensuring they host a semi-final should they progress that far.
Lions (3rd, 53 pts): A recent resurgence has put the Lions in a brilliant position for a home quarter-final. Even a losing bonus point in Dublin might be enough to keep them in the top four, but a win would keep them in the hunt for a top-two seed.
Bulls (7th, 49 pts): It’s a tight squeeze in the middle. They need a full five-point haul against Zebre to jump back into the top four bracket and avoid an away trip to Ireland or Scotland in the first round of the playoffs.
Sharks (10th, 36 pts): JP Pietersen’s team are mathematically out of the URC playoff race. Their focus is now on spoiler duty and building momentum for their remaining Challenge Cup commitments.
Rugby as a sport is about discipline, strength and skill. It is a tough game and highly sophisticated depending on who can win. Competitiveness is at the heart of this sport and whichever team rises to take the winning position must give credit to cooperation among its members. Cooperation among team mates is essential to achieve glory. But, as is always the case their can be only one winner. The Lions find themselves the perfect position to defend their title. If they progress, they will prove themselves to be the best competitors to stand ground. Rugby teams test their stamina on the pitch but in the URC only one team can triumph over the others. All rugby teams from the Lions to the Bulls have to draw the battle lines when taking on each other.
Eventually the balance will tip in favour of one team depending on who gives way. Rugby is not just a rough sport; it is one where both teams have to keep their wits about them when it comes to manoeuvring.
Meanwhile Australia U20 faced defeat by South Africa U20 56 -17 in a brutal and physical matchup in Round Two of the Rugby Championship.
The Aussies were down to at least 14 men three separate times during the match which ultimately was too much to overcome. After a couple of penalties to get them up the field, the Junior Springboks struck first through Jack Benade in the right corner. It went from bad to worse for the Aussies a few minutes later when Leo Jaques was given a yellow card for head-to-head contact.
The Australians are the toughest team on the rugby pitch and their defeat at the Springboks’ hands show how much the right amount of team work, skill and talent can achieve. The match would have been intensely watched by the fans. There would have been some fowls earned on the field. It depends on how both teams maintain discipline. But as always there can only be one team that can win. In the end it was South Africa.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
