State of the URC: High-flying Sharks hunt Lions

A full Vodacom URC round takes place next weekend, but first the Lions host the Sharks in a rescheduled clash in Joburg on Saturday, writes LINDIZ VAN ZILLA.

The four South African sides did not play their round-eight derbies just after Christmas, with the Lions-Sharks clash moved to 21 February and Bulls-Stormers to 14 March.

Round 12 action on 28 February will see the Lions host the Stormers and the Sharks travel to Pretoria to face the Bulls.

The stacked rugby calendar means that fans will have to keep their wits about them as they navigate the next couple of months of action:

• 21 February: Six Nations and URC (Lions vs Sharks)
• 27-28 February: URC round 12
• 6-7 March: Six Nations
• 14 March: Six Nations and URC (Bulls vs Stormers)
• 20-22 March: URC round 13
• 27-28 March: URC round 14
• 3-5 April: Investec Champions Cup round of 16
• 10-12 April: Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals

On Saturday, the Lions and the Sharks meet in contrasting shape.

The LIONS had for the longest time this season been the second best SA team in the URC behind the Stormers, but their campaign is unravelling fast.

The Lions were in seventh place on the 16-team log heading into the Jukskei derby against the Bulls at Ellis Park on 31 January. The 52-17 humbling at the hands of their great rivals, coupled with other results, have seen the Lions drop to 10th and they are now the lowest ranked of the SA sides.

Ivan van Rooyen and his coaching staff would have had sleepless nights over the three-week break in URC action as they plot how to turn around the team’s fortunes.

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The SHARKS are trending in exactly the opposite direction after mightily impressive back-to-back wins over the Stormers.

Before the two clashes against the Stormers, the Sharks had occupied 14th place on the URC log and playoff hopes seemed a distant dream. But a full house of points in both Cape Town and Durban have seen them move up to ninth and right in contention to make the quarter-finals.

JP Pietersen is almost certain to be handed the Sharks head coach role on a permanent basis and with the rest of the coaching set-up to be finalised soon, the pieces are starting to fall into place in Durban.

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The last time the teams met, at Kings Park in early January, replacement scrumhalf Haashim Pead scored an 81st-minute try to snatch a 23-22 win for the Lions.

There are also SA Shield log points to play for this Saturday. The resurgent Sharks are top on 16 points after playing four derby matches, followed by the Lions (10), Stormers (nine) and Bulls (seven).

Round 8 fixture (rescheduled)
Saturday, 21 February
Lions vs Sharks (2pm)