The Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls finally showed off what they are capable of, after a few weeks of frustration to secure their first Vodacom United Rugby Championship victories, while the DHL Stormers secured a draw, and the Emirates Lions were close to grabbing their second win of the season.
Off the field, South Africans apparently again will have to retreat as the URC organisers seem to be insistent that the "home games" of the South African Clubs must be played in Italy. This comes as a surprise as South Africa is officially off the "red list" that place our teams under severe Covid regulations and quarantine restrictions.
While the Lions were perhaps a bit unlucky to lose to Glasgow, and the Stormers could have beaten Edinburgh, the Sharks and Bulls put in brilliant performances in Wales.
The reasoning behind the organisers is apparently that the removal of South Africa came too late as final plans have already been put in place and it is too late to change. This argument is as ridiculous as the one below as the first game to be played is only on 27 November 2021. Maybe the South African clubs need to grow some big hairy @*%*#%.
The reasoning above is more or less as the rugby laws and bylaws which was used to slap an 8-week ban on Stormers player Adre Smith. Apparently, if a player is accused of "dirty play" and pleads not guilty, the player must prove his innocence. one can only cry that in this modern age that "intelligent" people can be this wise?
On Friday night in Swansea, the Cell C Sharks – with Boeta Chamberlain in control – raced away after the break in their match against the Ospreys to record a 27-13 win, and 24 hours later, approximately 70km to the south-east in Cardiff, the Vodacom Bulls “won” the second half 26-3 on their way to a 29-19 victory.
Only 13 second-half points were conceded between the four South African teams – none by the Stormers, three apiece by the Bulls and Lions, and seven by the Sharks.
The four South African teams finish their mini-tours next weekend – on Friday night, the Emirates Lions take on Ulster in Belfast and the DHL Stormers face the Dragons in Newport; and on Saturday, the Vodacom Bulls play Edinburgh, before the Cell C Sharks take on Cardiff.
The teams will thereafter be given a breather of 10 days whereafter they will convene to start a mini pre-season in preparation for the next round of matches in the URC.