It was a dramatic yet rewarding weekend for three of South Africa’s four Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams as the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and DHL Stormers registered crucial victories to stay on course as the playoff stages reach boiling point.
However, there was bitter disappointment for the Emirates Lions who succumbed to their fifth defeat in a row, which dealt a massive blow to hopes of reaching the top eight.
Round 15 was filled with ups and downs as the Hollywoodbets Sharks scored a late try to edge out Edinburgh 18-17 in Scotland, while a penalty goal in the closing minutes saw the Vodacom Bulls topple Munster 16-13 in Limerick as both teams in the top four won their games in the Northern Hemisphere.
At home in South Africa, an overturned try by Connacht at the death paved the way for the DHL Stormers to snatch a 34-29 victory in Cape Town, but unfortunately, the Emirates Lions were outplayed 42-31 by Benetton in Johannesburg.
These results saw the Vodacom Bulls, who became the first SA team to beat Munster in Limerick as they completed the “Irish Slam” in the process, hold onto third place on the standings (54 points), the Hollywoodbets Sharks remain in fourth place (49 points), and the DHL Stormers leap into eighth place (40 points), while the Emirates Lions finished the round in 14th position (31 points) with three rounds of pool matches remaining.
