The four South African United Rugby Championship (URC) teams face another big weekend of action as they look to retain their places in the top eight as the cross-hemisphere showpiece strikes round four.
The Sharks and Lions are in action from 20:45 (SA time) on Friday night as the Durbanites take on Cardiff in Wales, while the Johannesburg-based side face log-leaders Edinburgh in Scotland.
Two URC matches will play out in South Africa on Saturday – the Bulls host Ulster in Pretoria (13:45), and the Stormers take on the Scarlets in Cape Town (16:00).
On the latest URC standings, the Bulls now occupy third place, the Stormers are one position below in fourth (both on 11 log points), and the Sharks in fifth place (10 points), while the Lions are seventh (nine points).
ALL THE URC FIXTURES AND INFORMATION TO NOTE
Cardiff Rugby v Sharks
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 20:45 SA
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 61st league game)
AR 1: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) AR 2: Carwyn Sion (WRU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Josh Adams, Le Roux Malan, Steff Emanuel, Harri Millard, Jarrod Evans, Johan Mulder; Scott Sio, Liam Belcher (CAPT), Javan Sebastian, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, James Botham, Taine Basham
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Keiron Assiratti, Tom Manz, Semisi Paea, Aled Davies, Callum Sheedy, Tom Bowen
Sharks: Zekhethelo Siyaya, Edwill van der Merwe, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen (CAPT), Ethan Hooker, Gianni Lombard, Jaden Hendrikse; Phatu Ganyane, Eduan Swart, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Emile van Heerden, Matt Romao, Manu Tshituka, Nick Hatton
Replacements: Ethan Bester, Ox Nche, Thomas du Toit, Stephan Lewies, Vincent Tshituka, Ivan van Zyl, Siya Masuku, Jaco Williams
Edinburgh Rugby v Lions
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 20:45 SA
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU, 17th league game)
AR 1: Mike Adamson (SRU) AR 2: Rob McDowell (SRU)
TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)
Edinburgh Rugby: Piers O’Conor, Geordie Gwynn, Matt Currie (C.CAPT), Mosese Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, James Grayson, Hector Patterson; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Glen Young, Grant Gilchrist, Liam McConnell, Tom Currie, Magnus Bradbury (C.CAPT)
Replacements: Harri Morris, Jamie Stewart, Paul Hill, Marshall Sykes, Tom Dodd, Conor McAlpine, Cammy Scott, Harry Paterson
Lions: Quan Horn, Kelly Mpeku, Henco van Wyk, Bronson Mills Erich Cronje, Chris Smith, Nico Steyn; Boan Venter, Morne Brandon, Conraad van Vuuren, Etienne Oosthuizen, Ruan Delport, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Batho Hlekani, Francke Horne
Replacements: PJ Botha, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Dylan Sjoblom, Siba Mahashe, Zian Cilliers, Richard Kriel, Boeta Chamberlain
Bulls v Ulster
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – KO 13:45 SA
Referee: Ru Campbell (SRU, 5th league game)
AR 1: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU) AR 2: Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Bulls: Luan Giliomee, Sebastian de Klerk, Sango Xamlashe, Harold Vorster, Cheswill Jooste, Handre Pollard, Paul de Wet; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Reinhardt Ludwig, Marcell Coetzee (CAPT), Hanro Liebenberg, Elrigh Louw
Replacements: Marco van Staden, Alu Tshakweni, Khutha Mchunu, Cobus Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, Zak Burger, Curwin Bosch, Dylan Maart
Ulster Rugby: Jacob Stockdale, Chay Mullins, Jamie Benson, Stuart McCloskey, Michael Lowry, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Tom O’Toole, Tom Stewart (CAPT), Keynan Knox, Ben Donnell, Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus
Replacements: Henry Walker, Eric O’Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Eli Snyman, James McNabney, Matthew Devine, Jake Flannery, James McKillop
Stormers v Scarlets
DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 16.00 SA
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU, 4th league game)
AR 1: Christopher Allison (SARU) AR 2: Juan de Bod (SARU)
TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Seabelo Senatla, Wandisile Simelane, Markus Muller, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Haashim Pead; Ntuthuko Mchunu, André-Hugo Venter, Zachary Porthen, Riley Norton, Connor Evans, Paul de Villiers (CAPT), Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Olly Reid, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Deon Fourie, Cobus Reinach, Yaqeen Ahmed
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas, Ioan Jones, Joe Roberts, Joe Hawkins, Macs Page, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias, John McKee, Harri O’Connor, Alex Groves, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod (CAPT), Fletcher Anderson
Replacements: George Roberts, Sam O’Connor, Gabe Hawley, Harvey Cuckson, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Gareth Anscombe, Isaac Murray-Macgregor
HOW THE LATEST LOG LOOKS
| # | Team | PTS | PL | W | D | L | BP | PTS DIFFERENTIAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edinburgh | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 |
| 2 | Glasgow | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| 3 | Bulls | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 72 |
| 4 | Stormers | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 27 |
| 5 | Sharks | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | Cardiff | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -5 |
| 7 | Lions | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -25 |
| 8 | Dragons | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 9 | Munster | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| 10 | Leinster | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 17 |
| 11 | Ulster | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -5 |
| 12 | Scarlets | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -17 |
| 13 | Ospreys | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -26 |
| 14 | Connacht | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -28 |
| 15 | Benetton | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -4 |
| 16 | Zebre | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -64 |