URC LOOK AHEAD: Sharks and Stormers on collision course

Given the form they have picked up in their attacking game the DHL Stormers have picked up over the past two games they are probably the last team you’d want to face in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarterfinal, but that looks set to be the fate of the Hollywoodbets Sharks.

There’s still plenty to be decided when it comes to who finishes in the top eight and who finishes where in the top four when the competition returns after this week's break for the EPCR semifinals, but round 16 did prove to be a decisive weekend in several respects. For a start, the Sharks’ great come from behind win over Ulster pretty much clinched their place in the top four.

There is still a mathematical chance they could go higher, but it is unlikely, so they will probably be playing in the Finals Series opener that features the team that finishes fourth against the team that finishes fifth. Stormers coach John Dobson admitted the obvious after his team’s impressive 56-5 over Benetton in Cape Town - “We’d definitely prefer to have to travel within South Africa for that game than to be going overseas.”

If you look at the Stormers’ record north of the equator and compare it to their derby record it is easy to see why. And although they are sixth heading into the final two rounds, a fifth placed finish is now looking more than likely after the other weekend results conspired in their favour.

Cardiff’s win over Munster at the start of the round took them to fifth, one point ahead of the Stormers. Munster, who were far more dangerous as they have home games to come, are now four points behind the Stormers and the other dangerous team, Ulster, now even further back thanks to the Sharks’ efforts at the Kingspan Stadium.

HARD TO SEE CARDIFF MAINTAINING THEIR POSITION

The key for the Stormers is that they have a game against Cardiff in their future. They finish off their league campaign against the Welsh team at the DHL Stadium and will start as strong favourites to win on their home ground following their dominant performance against Benetton. But you’d expect Cardiff to drop behind the Stormers even before that game arrives, as next up for them is the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria. On the same weekend, the Stormers host the last placed team on the log, the Dragons.

That penultimate round, round 17, should be a decisive one in deciding whether there is any challenge to the Stormers’ quest for fifth, with Munster and Ulster facing up to each other in an unpredictable Irish derby in Limerick, and the currently eighth placed Benetton hosting the second placed Glasgow Warriors in Treviso.

FINAL LEAGUE GAME COULD HAVE HUGE SIGNIFICANCE

A Benetton win will help the Bulls in their quest for second. The Pretoria team looked set to finish round 16 level on points with Glasgow when they led 26-7 shortly before the end of their game at the Scotstoun but two late tries for the home team brought them an important bonus point that was more than just a consolation for defeat given it puts them one ahead of the Bulls with two games to play.

That will be significant if Glasgow win both their remaining games with bonus points as it will mean they can’t be caught in the battle for the runners up spot to Leinster. The problem for Glasgow is that both games are tough - Benetton will be eager to stand up from the disappointment of Cape Town and have a top eight finish on the line and are always more dangerous at home, while their last game will be against Leinster.

That clash in Dublin is the last scheduled game in the league phase and if the Bulls win their remaining two games, both at Loftus against Welsh teams, and Glasgow pick up full points against Benetton, it will have a lot of significance both for the Bulls and Glasgow.

Finishing second means you get to host in the playoff phase right up to the semifinal if you get that far and also significantly improves your chances of hosting the decider, which will happen if the team that starts the Finals Series in pole position gets knocked out along the way.

The Bulls will be supporting Leinster against Glasgow and should be a little concerned that the game will be played a week before the Investec Champions Cup final as it may mean Leinster will have their minds on that.

LIONS NEED THOSE AROUND THEM TO FAIL TWICE

The Lions meanwhile kept their slender hopes of a top eight finish alive with their win over Connacht on a weekend where they were also helped by Edinburgh’s draw with Munster, but not by the Scarlets’ unexpected comprehensive win over Leinster.

If the Lions can win against both Scarlets and Ospreys with a bonus point they will get to 45 points, which is where the sixth placed Stormers are now. They will have a realistic chance of a top eight finish if the Scarlets lose both games in South Africa and don’t get more than two bonus points from those and if Benetton lose to both Glasgow at home and Munster away.

But Munster also have to be pinned back so it is still a long shot for the Lions.

ROUND 17 VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Ospreys (Durban, Friday 9 May, 19.00)

Munster v Ulster (Limerick, Friday 9 May, 20.35)

Vodacom Bulls v Cardiff Rugby (Pretoria, Saturday 10 May, 16.00)

Benetton v Glasgow Warriors (Treviso, Saturday 10 May, 18.15)

DHL Stormers v Dragons (Cape Town, Saturday 10 May, 18.15)

Leinster v Zebre (Dublin, Saturday 18.15)

Connacht v Edinburgh (Galway, Saturday 10 May, 20.35)

Emirates Lions v Scarlets (Johannesburg, Sunday 11 May, 15.00)

Round 18 Vodacom United Rugby Championship

DHL Stormers v Cardiff Rugby (Cape Town, Friday 16 May, 19.00)

Edinburgh v Ulster (Edinburgh, Friday 16 May, 20.35)

Munster v Benetton (Limerick, Friday 16 May, 21.00)

Vodacom Bulls v Dragons (Pretoria, Saturday 17 May, 15.00)

Emirates Lions v Ospreys (Johannesburg, Saturday 17 May, 17.15)

Zebre v Connacht (Parma, Saturday 17 May, 18.00)

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Scarlets (Durban, Saturday 17 May, 19.30)

Leinster v Glasgow Warriors (Dublin, Saturday 17 May, 20.35)

Log situation with two games to go: 1. Leinster 67, 2. Glasgow Warriors 59, 3. Vodacom Bulls 58, 4. Hollywoodbets Sharks 53, 5. Cardiff 46, 6. DHL Stormers 45, 7. Scarlets 43, 8. Benetton 41, 9. Munster 41, 10. Edinburgh 39, 11. Ospreys 38, 13. Ulster 38, 14. Emirates Lions 35, 14. Connacht 35, 15. Zebre 29, 16. Dragons 9.