Advertisement

URC PREVIEW: Integrating Boks and winning on the road - SA franchises' tough challenge

football10 October 2025 06:10
By:Brenden Nel
Share
article image
DHL Stormers © Gallo Images

South Africa’s stiff challenge in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship ramps up this weekend with all four sides facing away games for the first time in the competition.

If the opening two rounds are anything to go by, the away teams face a massive task as there has been just one victory for an away side - and one draw - in the first two weeks of the competition.

That's just one victory and one draw for an away side in 14 games, underlying the tough task early in the competition to travel and win away from home.

But that’s the task that the South African franchises face this weekend as they all face tough games, with the added challenge of integrating many of the returning Springboks into their sides for the tough away games.

Luckily many of the Springboks didn’t have to travel far from their Twickenham match last weekend where they defended the Castle Lager Rugby Championship to join up with their franchises, but managing game time, integrating players back into the system when they’ve spent months with the Boks is always a challenge in week one.

Still, the positives outweigh the negatives and the talent boost is worth the risk as the teams search for some valuable points on the road in a competition that does not offer them up easily.

All four teams are certainly capable of getting the wins on the road, with the Hollywoodbets Sharks possibly the toughest of the lot with a game against defending champions Leinster in Dublin waiting for them on Saturday, with the latter awaiting the return of their British and Irish Lions contingent to join them for the first time.

Round 3 Vodacom URC Fixtures

Friday

Munster v Edinburgh (Friday, 20h45)

Munster definitely look to be the favourites here after being one of only four sides in the competition to win both their opening games, both against Welsh sides - Scarlets and Cardiff while Edinburgh’s game was called off last weekend because of bad weather. Their only other outing was a shock loss to Zebre, and while they will have Bok Boan Venter back, Sean Everitt’s side face a tough task at Thomond Park.

Prediction: Munster by 7

Scarlets v DHL Stormers (Friday 20h45)

The big news about the return to the Stormers of Bok stars Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse will be a massive boost as both are in some form of their lives and will certainly be a nightmare for any opposition. Add that to the solid start the Stormers have had with wins over the Ospreys and Leinster and things are looking really good in the Cape side at the moment.

Deon Fourie’s return off the bench, and their forward pack’s strong start bodes well for the Stormers, who traditionally don’t tour well. However, everything on paper at least points to a massive Stormers performance and a chance to continue their incredible start to the season.

Scarlets lost to Munster at home in Round one and had their game called off last weekend so it is hard not to see the Stormers winning this.

Prediction: Stormers by 10

Saturday

Benetton v Lions (Saturday 16h00)

What can one say about the Lions that hasn’t been said already? Their focus on winning the Currie Cup backfired and now they have lost their opening two games of the URC by falling into the same traps as last season. In the fifth season together their coaching team can’t seem to find the winning formula and coach Cash van Rooyen is under a lot of pressure, but it doesn’t seem to phase his bosses at all, much to the frustration of the fans of the franchise.

Benetton won’t be easy, as they downed Glasgow Warriors at home last season after losing their first match to Connacht in Galway and when they get on top in Treviso, they are a tough side to stop.

The Lions though, have their own demons to battle, and that could make it a very tough task for them not to return from their last match of their tour without a win.

Prediction: Benetton by 7

Ospreys v Zebre Parma (Saturday 16h00)

Zebre Parma are undoubtedly on an upward curve and are unbeaten after two rounds of the competition, having downed Edinburgh and the Lions but the Ospreys will be desperate for points after losing both their opening games in South Africa.

That will test the Italians, who certainly aren’t an easy team to face anymore, but whether it will be enough to stop the momentum waits to be seen.

Prediction: Ospreys by a point or two, but this could go either way

Glasgow Warriors v Dragons (Saturday 18h30)

Glasgow were stunned by Benetton last week in a loss that dumbfounded players and will add some pressure to their cause after their impressive opening round win over the Sharks. Dragons were well beaten by Ulster in round one, but rallied to draw with the Sharks last weekend and will be buoyed by that performance. Home ground should settle this one in a decent win for the Warriors

Prediction: Glasgow by 10 or more

Leinster v Hollywoodbets Sharks (Saturday 18h30)

By all accounts this is the game of the weekend. The Sharks are bruised after two defeats but have a bunch of returning players to boost them this weekend, including Springboks Ethan Hooker and Makazole Mapimpi, who provide firepower on the wings.

Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch are on the bench for an extra boost while Jason Jenkins returns to the starting line-up and Siya Masuku to the bench should give John Plumtree’s side a lift as well.

Strange as it is, both sides have not won a game yet in this year’s competition, with Leinster losing both in South Africa with an understrength team while the Sharks have one loss and a draw and have been a bit underwhelming without their Boks and with loads of injuries.

Leinster are expected to be packed with British and Irish Lions and the Sharks will be hoping they catch them a bit cold without game time to cause an upset, but the reality is few teams win in Dublin when Leinster hit their stride.

Expect a massive battle, but the defending champions are likely to win it and pull away late in the game.

Prediction: Leinster by 10, but only comfortable late in the game.

Ulster v Vodacom Bulls (Saturday 20h45)

One of the more intriguing games of the season, especially with the Bulls adding most of their Springboks to the side and are expected to load the team with them, as well as returning players Cobus Wiese, Jan Serfontein and a few others when the team is named late on Friday.

They have never won in Belfast and that remains a massive task for this team, but they are better on the road, as last season’s wins at Munster, Glasgow and Bayonne (in the Challenge Cup) showed. The Bulls have scored almost 100 points in the first two games, and the integration of the Boks will be interesting, but they have leaked a lot of points as well.

Ulster had a big win over Dragons in round one but their game against Edinburgh was called off last weekend. Their home record, the weather conditions and the Bulls integration of the Boks may favour them, but if the Bulls’ Boks click, they have enough firepower to break their duck in Northern Ireland.

Handre Pollard will be a key figure in his first game back in light blue.

Prediction: Bulls to win by 5-7 points

Cardiff v Connacht (Saturday 20h45)

Another fascinating game to watch as Stuart Lancaster’s side look to continue their positive start with one good win over Benetton in round one but had their game called off last weekend. Cardiff had a good opening win over the Lions, but then fell at Thomond Park against Munster. Back at home they should be tougher and if they click, could give Lancaster’s men a tough time.

Prediction: Too close to call, but Cardiff because of home ground advantage by a few points.

Advertisement