URC sides’ Currie Cup playoff hopes hanging by a thread as play-off race takes shape
South Africa’s four URC franchises are in danger of missing the Currie Cup playoffs, with the Lions, Stormers XXIII and Boland Kavaliers all facing crucial clashes as the domestic competition enters its final two weekends.
With only two weekends of Currie Cup round-robin matches remaining, South Africa's four United Rugby Championship teams are teetering on the edge of playoff contention and face the possibility of being left out. The Lions, currently in fifth place, and the Stormers XXIII in sixth must hope for favorable results and win their final two games to have a shot at the semi-finals.
The battle begins on Friday, when the Lions are set to take on the Sharks XV at Durban. Meanwhile, the Cape team will face off in a North-South derby at Loftus Versfeld, a crucial game that could determine their chances of securing a playoff spot. Ahead of the trip to Pretoria, the Stormers may make personnel changes following injuries that have hampered their performance in a recent loss to the Pumas.
However, head coach Tom Dawson-Squibb remains optimistic, stating that fresh energy could be added to their squad with the necessary adjustments. The Stormers will need to perform exceptionally well against the Bulls and secure a win in their final match against the Lions to give themselves the best chance of advancing. In the Lions' camp, the future remains uncertain after a disappointing campaign, with the Friday clash against the Sharks potentially giving them a boost to jump into fourth place ahead of the Boland Kavaliers.
Boland will face the former team of coach Hawies Fourie, the Cheetahs, in Bloemfontein on Sunday, hoping for another victory to secure their top-four status.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
