South African sides ready to roar as new URC season kicks off

The four South African franchises will kick off their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaigns this weekend in what promises to be another compelling edition of the international club tournament.

Since joining the European competition, a South African side has reached the final every season — and expectations remain high for that streak to continue. The Stormers claimed the title in the inaugural year, while they and the Bulls have since fallen short in finals, with the Pretoria side suffering the agony of three runner-up finishes.

Leinster, who defeated the Bulls in Ireland earlier this year to secure the title, will begin their defence with squads across the competition looking stronger than ever. For the South African franchises, the mission is clear: reclaim dominance and re-establish their foothold in Europe.

A start against the defending champions

After crashing out in the quarter-finals last season, the Stormers face a baptism of fire as defending champions Leinster visit Cape Town on Friday evening. The clash will provide the perfect barometer after a long pre-season.

With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse on Springbok duty, and Manie Libbok departing for Japan after his international duties, the flyhalf position is a key question mark.

The exits of Herschel Jantjies and Paul de Wet have further thinned the scrumhalf stocks. Still, the Stormers’ pack remains formidable, and their running rugby strategy will once again rely on dominance up front. Leinster, however, will be a stern test.

Swimming in a different pond

The Sharks face a daunting trip to Scotstoun Stadium to take on former champions Glasgow Warriors on Friday.

Missing several Springboks and key injured players, the Durban side knows they won’t get a warm Scottish welcome. Even with the absentees, the men of John Plumtree will still have enough stars in their team to get their campaign off to a successful start.

Despite falling short in the semifinals last season, the Sharks arrive with confidence and some smart new signings. The biggest question remains at flyhalf, but even without their top stars, they remain a dangerous outfit capable of upsetting Glasgow.

The perennial bridesmaids

Three finals. Three defeats. The Bulls, arguably South Africa’s most consistent URC side, are desperate to break their curse.

New head coach Johan Ackermann takes the reins after Jake White’s departure, bringing fresh energy to Loftus. While White’s impact was undeniable, it’s now up to Ackermann to convert consistency into silverware.

The Ospreys in Pretoria might look like an ideal start, but they remain a banana peel fixture early in the season. Top of Ackermann’s list will be to establish some sort of balance in the squad early on as he looks to lead the side to the promised land.

Lions at the crossroads

The Lions enter the URC still smarting from this past weekend’s Currie Cup final defeat against Griquas with an almost full-strength squad. That loss to so-called underdogs highlighted their frustrating inconsistency: red-hot one moment, undone by sloppy errors the next.

They started the URC well last season and for a big part of the season it looked like they were finally going to break their playoffs curse. That dream never became reality and they failed to make the top-eight.

For head coach Ivan van Rooyen, this feels like last-chance territory. Failure to reach the playoffs — and by extension the Champions Cup — could spell the end of the current regime. With a more experienced squad at his disposal, the Lions must finally turn potential into results.