The Vodacom Bulls and Sharks will try and advance to the Champions Cup and EPCR Problem Cup semi-finals, respectively, for the primary time this weekend.
The Sharks will take the sphere first in opposition to Edinburgh at Kings Park within the Problem Cup quarter-finals on Saturday after thumping Zebre Parma final week, whereas the Bulls tackle Northampton Saints in England, following their complete win in opposition to Lyon.
The Bulls will face a formidable drive within the Saints, who’re unbeaten within the competitors this season and at present prime the Premiership desk with 10 victories of their 14 matches. Additionally they boast a superb monitor file at house, with just one defeat at Franklin’s Gardens this season.
The Pretoria outfit, nonetheless, will take confidence from the truth that they suffered just one defeat within the competitors, whereas their attacking statistics are marginally higher with 25 tries to 22 by the Saints, and they’re going to enter match effectively conscious of the truth that this can be a do-or-die conflict and that they’ve all the pieces to achieve.
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Fueling their motivation, they suffered a slender 29-28 defeat in opposition to Lyon in France in the one outing wherein they got here second-best within the Champions Cup this season, whereas their 9 tries final week will undoubtedly enhance their confidence additional going into the conflict.
The Sharks will again themselves in opposition to Edinburgh in what is going to mark the second time the perimeters meet in Durban in three weeks after the Durbanites beat the Scottish outfit 23-13 within the Vodacom URC on the finish of March.
John Plumtree’s expenses are additionally on a three-match profitable streak within the Problem Cup – the place they’ve solely suffered one defeat to 2 by Edinburgh – and in Durban respectively, the place they registered victories in opposition to Ulster and Edinburgh within the URC earlier than outplaying Zebre within the European showpiece final week.
The hosts may also take consolation from the truth that they boast a superior assault having scored 28 tries of their 5 matches to Edinburgh’s 20, whereas they are going to draw large inspiration from their passionate crowd as they proceed to sway their fortunes after a bitterly disappointing begin to the season.
Champions Cup quarter-finals:
Saturday, 13 AprilBordeaux vs Harlequins, Bordeaux, 4pmLeinster vs La Rochelle, Dublin, 5.30pmNorthampton vs Bulls, Franklin’s Gardens, 8pm
Sunday, 14 AprilToulouse vs Exeter, Toulouse, 4pm
Problem Cup quarter-finals:
Friday, 12 AprilGloucester vs Ospreys, Gloucester, 8pm
Saturday, 13 AprilSharks vs Edinburgh, Durban, 1.30pmClermont v Ulster, Clermont, 1.30pm
Sunday, 14 AprilBenetton vs Connacht, Treviso, 1.30pm
Picture: @Springboks/Twitter
