South Africa’s top franchises have performed better than expected in their debut season of the European Champions Cup. Whether they have enough gas in the tank to perform in the playoffs, and at the back end of the equally important United Rugby Championship, remains to be seen.
The Bulls and Stormers proved their United Rugby Championship title credentials in two highly entertaining local derbies against the Sharks and the Lions respectively this weekend.
The Bulls, like they did when they ousted the Sharks from last season’s United Rugby Championship, did a job on them again on Sunday, getting a 40-27 bonus-point win at Loftus,
The Sharks were the standout South African side in this weekend’s United Rugby Championship fixtures, securing an excellent 40-12 victory over the Glasgow Warriors. Meanwhile, the Bulls and Lions both suffered rare defeats while the Stormers’ winning streak finally ended.