URC PREVIEW: There are no ‘gimmes’ for SA teams in this round

You’d think that the Vodacom Bulls playing the Dragons and the DHL Stormers hosting Connacht would mean only one thing given the current Vodacom URC log positions, but any assumption that the South African teams will romp to easy victories this weekend is wide of the mark.

Connacht only lost to the Stormers last year because of a TMO decision that ruled out a last gasp try from the visitors, and the Irish team are in a desperate mood as they sit on the cusp of the top eight bracket that would propel them into the playoffs and into next year’s Investec Champions Cup.

They have a lot to play for and play a good style of rugby under an excellent coach in former England mentor Stuart Lancaster.

The Dragons are second last on the log, ahead of only Zebre, but they are always competitive and they never give up. They showed that when they played the Stormers in Cape Town four weeks ago. The Bulls’ scrum is the obvious route to a visiting win, but at the Rodney Parade, this is certainly no ‘gimme’ for the Bulls.

Before the break for the EPCR knock-out games the South African teams completed nearly perfect returns across two rounds of home games, with only the Hollywoodbets Sharks falling short of grabbing a four try bonus point in addition to the win when they managed just three tries in their win over Cardiff.

It was 39 points from a possible 40, but the SA teams would be exceeding expectations if they continued that momentum given that, although for some reason the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions have been made favourites at Ellis Park, the log leaders and top performing team in the competition are in town.

The Lions definitely have a good chance at a venue where they thrashed Glasgow the last time Franco Smith’s team visited for a URC game, with the final score of 44-21 in favour of the Lions flattering the losers. But the last time the teams met was in Glasgow last year, and Glasgow won that one 42-0, with again the score flattering the losers.

It is likely to be a lot closer this time, and since the Glasgow defeat in Johannesburg in 2024 they’ve won a final in Pretoria. So they’ve figured out how to deal with altitude. The Sharks are in Swansea to play the Ospreys in a must-win game and they will have to play well to win.

The biggest game not featuring a SA team this weekend is the one in Belfast, where Ulster host Leinster in a game that could jeopardise the champion team’s chances of securing a top four finish. Talking of top two, the Stormers will be helped by a Lions win as it will give them a chance of going back to the top of the log - provided they beat Connacht.

Eight massive #VURC matches to keep you on the edge of your seat 🏉🍿#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/sXb2DTbnrJ — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 17, 2026

Round 15 Vodacom United Rugby Championship Previews and Predictions

Edinburgh v Zebre (Edinburgh, Friday 20.45)

Edinburgh are way behind the top eight now and Zebre are last so there’s nothing riding on this game other than pride - and possibly the need for Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt to get the win that will quieten the Scottish critics who are getting impatient with what they regard as underachievement.

Prediction: Edinburgh to win by 12 or more

Dragons v Vodacom Bulls (Newport, Friday 20.45)

This isn’t the ‘gimme’ people think it is. The Bulls will be favourites, but the bookies’ 12 point advantage to the visitors might be a bit off. The Bulls’ scrum is their weapon in the hunt for victory but it is not going to be easy for them.

Prediction: Bulls to win by 7 or less

Ulster v Leinster (Belfast, Friday 20.45)

Shew, this is a difficult one, and the bookies make it even. Leinster are in the last four of the Champions Cup and may be deflected a bit by their European ambitions, remembering that they go straight from the URC back into an EPCR semifinal in a few weeks time. So for that reason and the fact they are playing at home, Ulster are marginal favourites.

Prediction: Ulster to sneak it by less than 7

DHL Stormers v Connacht (Cape Town, Saturday 13.45)

Some bookies were making it a 22 or more point win for the Stormers which frankly is a bit ridiculous. It’s going to be cold in Cape Town on Saturday and perhaps raining too - in other words the conditions Connacht are used to. Connacht are also a decent and well coached team and were unlucky not to at least draw with the Stormers when they last visited the DHL Stadium 12 months ago. That despite a brilliant individual display from Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who scored three tries, on the night.

Prediction: Stormers to win by 10 or less

Fidelity SureDrive Lions v Glasgow Warriors (Johannesburg, Saturday 16.00)

Some have the Lions as marginal favourites in this game but in reality there seems to be a lot of assumption going on. How will Glasgow react to being dumped out of the Champions Cup last week?

There could be two different possible responses, and one of them, meaning they become immediately singularly focused on the URC and quickly put the loss to Toulon behind them, will make them exceptionally hard to beat. Make no mistake though, the Lions have momentum and have become a good team.

They have also had three weeks to build up to this game. It’s really hard to call.

Prediction: Lions to scrape it

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby (Llanelli, Saturday 18.30)

The rest of the teams chasing top four and top eight finishes will be rooting for Scarlets in this game and it is a Welsh derby so it’s not completely beyond the realms of possibility there could be an upset. Scarlets are languishing but they have periodically put together some good performances.

Prediction: Cardiff to win by 8

Benetton v Munster (Treviso, Saturday 20.45)

Munster were let off the hook a bit when the Bulls allowed them to pick up to losing bonus points in Pretoria last time out and a win over the Italian team will firm up their position in the top eight and their challenge for a top four finish. The latter is starting to look unlikely. Benetton have had a below par season other than their win over Glasgow at the start but could be tough at home.

Prediction: Munster to win by 7

Ospreys v Hollywoodbets Sharks (Swansea, Saturday 20.45)

Another game that is really tough to call, as reflected by the bookies making it fairly even. The Ospreys have only a slender chance of making the top eight now, but the question is, do they still believe they can do it? If so they will be desperate. That the Sharks, who will have the owners and many stakeholders present as there was a Sharks fundraiser in London this week, will be desperate should surely go without saying. Or does it?

You never know with the Sharks, but they need to win every game to qualify for next year’s Champions Cup.

Prediction: Ospreys to scrape the narrowest of wins.

Log positions after 14 games: 1. Glasgow Warriors 55 points; 2. DHL Stormers 51; Ulster 47; 4. Leinster 46; 5. Fidelity SureDrive Lions 43; 6. Cardiff 41; 7. Munster 41; 8. Vodacom Bulls 40; 9. Connacht 39; 10. Hollywoodbets Sharks 33; 11. Ospreys 30; 12. Benetton 28; 13. Edinburgh 23; 14. Scarlets 21; 15. Dragons 21; 16. Zebre 12.