If the 2023-24 Vodacom United Rugby Championship season is a recreation of Survivor, then the Hollywoodbets Sharks, South Africa’s lowest-placed staff this season, all of a sudden are on the effectively they usually have the swing vote.
It is without doubt one of the nice ironies of this season that, within the ultimate spherical of the league section, the Hollywoodbets Sharks will decide whether or not the Vodacom Bulls end exterior of the highest two, and who wins the Vodacom URC SA Defend.
Although the Hollywoodbets Sharks are out of play-off rivalry, their efficiency within the ultimate spherical carries important weight. A victory at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon wouldn’t solely improve the lustre of their current EPCR Problem Cup triumph in London, but additionally disrupt the Vodacom Bulls’ quest for a top-two end.
A roller-coaster season sees the Hollywoodbets Sharks go into Saturday’s conflict in Durban on a run of seven wins of their final 10 fixtures in all competitions, a outstanding turnaround after starting the season with simply two wins in 10.
Turning into the primary South African staff to play in an EPCR ultimate and win the Problem Cup has added a brand new lease of life to John Plumtree’s Springbok-powered facet. They’re reinvigorated and in no temper to be charitable to their countrymen from up north.
Nevertheless, with the confetti of the triumph on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium swept away, the Hollywoodbets Sharks now have a chance to show that they’ve really turned the nook by beating South Africa’s high staff this season.
Alternatively, a defeat to the Vodacom Bulls on dwelling turf would forged a shadow over their newly minted trophy and provides Hollywoodbets Sharks followers motive for pause.
In the meantime, for the Vodacom Bulls, the stakes couldn’t be increased.
Though their place among the many high 4 is assured, securing a top-two end would assure the Vodacom Bulls a possible semi-final within the skinny air of Loftus Versfeld, a vital benefit of their quest for a maiden Vodacom URC championship.
Simply three factors separate league leaders Munster from fourth-placed Glasgow Warriors, with the Vodacom Bulls going into the ultimate spherical in second place, two factors behind the defending champions.
Jake White’s expenses have misplaced only one dwelling recreation this season – a 27-22 nail-biter towards Munster in Spherical 14 – and their file at Fortress Loftus within the Vodacom URC is 409 factors for and 228 factors towards. A house run by way of the playoffs can be an enormous enhance.
The momentum generated by the Hollywoodbets Sharks clinching a European title final week has Vodacom Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar cautious of what to anticipate in Durban on Saturday.
“We’ve bought to deal with ourselves and play the perfect rugby that we will, regardless what staff they put out towards us. Clearly they didn’t play their greatest rugby initially of the season, however they’re enjoying their greatest rugby on the finish,” Grobbelaar stated.
“If you wish to win the trophy you must win video games like this; if you wish to win a semi-final or ultimate you’re going to need to win in SA, even when it’s away.
“In the event that they ship their greatest staff then we will measure ourselves towards the perfect. We’ve seen up to now that if you go into play-off video games and also you had an easy recreation of working away with the scoreboard, then groups are inclined to get a bit comfy.
“We positively don’t need a straightforward recreation, we need to get examined. All respect to the Sharks, folks at all times speak about an A staff and B staff however whoever they ship out shall be very sturdy in Durban.
“That is really a tough time to face them, they’re beginning to play their greatest rugby now. I don’t suppose they’re going to go away or are glad with their season but, though they’ve received a trophy.
“They’re going to need to end sturdy; it’s a house recreation for them they usually aren’t backing off one bit and we’re up for a giant problem.”
There’s additionally the South African Defend to play for, which this season shall be determined solely on derby outcomes.
The SA Defend champion shall be decided by this week’s derbies, with the Vodacom Bulls main on 20 factors, intently adopted by the DHL Stormers, who cross swords with the Emirates Lions on Saturday within the Mom Metropolis, with 17.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks are shaping to play the position of spoiler whereas the Vodacom Bulls thunder after the SA crown in an emotionally-charged SA derby, compounded by the subtext of play-off implications, which epitomises the unpredictable drama of the Vodacom URC.
Photograph: Patrick Khachfe/Getty Pictures
