What comes next ups the ante for Stormers and Bulls

It is when you take a glance at what comes next for both teams that you understand why this coming weekend’s full round of Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixtures is so important to the respective goals of the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls.

With a lead of 13 points on the Bulls, the Stormers have a significant and probably uncatchable advantage in the battle for the South African Shield. But Ulster beating the Cell C Sharks last weekend has made a Stormers win imperative when they host the same Sharks in Cape Town on Saturday.

The gap between second, currently occupied by the Stormers, and third (Ulster) has been cut to five points. Ulster are in Cardiff on Friday night and if they pick up a five-point haul there the Stormers will need points from the Sharks game to stay ahead.

PRETORIA TEAM HAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT QUEST

The Bulls’ quest is now a slightly different one to the Stormers. They need to get from their current sixth position back into the top four. Top four is what guarantees you a home quarterfinal. They host the Emirates Lions in the second game of another South African derby double header on Saturday.

They, like the Stormers, desperately need to win on Saturday because of what comes up after the three-week recess that the teams go into after this match - the Stormers and the Bulls will both be heading to Ireland in the last weekend of March, and both of them play games they will struggle to win.

The Stormers head to Dublin to play Leinster, while the same weekend Ulster host the Bulls at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Defeats for both South African teams in those games will be less calamitous if they win this weekend. If they don’t win this weekend, those games become more important, and neither coach should want that.

It is getting to that time of the competition where almost every game could have a big impact on where the teams will finish and who will play where in the playoff phase.

While the Lions did knock back the Glasgow Warriors' threat to the South African ambitions of getting two teams into the top four, meaning there’d be two playoff games in this country in the quarterfinal round, Ulster’s win in Durban in the double header of derbies last weekend kept them on track in their battle with the Stormers for second place.

The games played last week were the ones rescheduled from October, when a gastro virus prevented Ulster and Glasgow from fulfilling their commitments against the Cell C Sharks and Lions respectively. So the log has now reached a point where the teams are all finally on level terms when it comes to games played. They’ve all played 14, meaning there are four to go.

ULSTER HAVE EASIER RUN IN

Ulster go to Cardiff on Friday night to play a team that will have the motivation of wanting to defend their current lead over the Ospreys in the battle for Welsh Shield honours. The Shield is extra important for the Welsh as it is possible that the Principality will again miss out on a top-eight position, which means the Shield will be relied on for qualification to next season’s Heineken Champions Cup.

The Stormers, like was the case two weeks ago when they played the Bulls in Pretoria the day after Ulster had lost to Glasgow, will know where they stand in relation to Ulster when they kick off against the Sharks on Saturday. If Ulster win with a bonus point, it will heap the pressure on the Stormers as they will be all square.

The Sharks will be travelling to Cape Town with a lot of motivation as they desperately need to cement their position in the top seven, meaning Champions Cup qualification, as well as try and bid for a top four position if they can. With their Springboks due back in the mix the next time they play, an upset win could just be the start of a momentum that could make them a threat in the competition.

At this point it looks unlikely the Stormers will finish lower than third, meaning SA is almost certain to host at least one quarterfinal, though the Warriors should pick up maximum points when they host Zebre on Friday.

The Bulls game is arguably Ulster’s toughest of their remaining fixtures, which should see the Stormers in the unfamiliar position of supporting their arch-rivals that weekend. If you consider Leinster must be favourites against the Stormers in Dublin, it does suggest the race for second will be a close one. Unless the Bulls help the Stormers out, or Cardiff do it this Friday. Whichever way you look at it, the Stormers do need to beat the Sharks despite the breathing space given them in the battle for Shield honours by their gutsy recent away win against the Bulls.

MUNSTER ALSO A THREAT

Munster, who play Scarlets this week, are positioned fifth and could also be problematic to the South African quest for two teams in the top four. In their case, though, they have a particularly tough finish to the competition, with a difficult home fixture against Glasgow in late March being followed by a two-match tour of South Africa, where they face the Stormers and the Sharks.

Edinburgh are just outside the top eight and will carry a lot of motivation into their clash with Leinster on Saturday. Leinster remain unbeaten and are four matches away from completing a clean sweep.

WEEKEND VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

Munster v Scarlets (Friday, 9.35pm)

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre (Friday, 9.35pm)

DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks (Saturday, 2.30pm)

Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions (Saturday, 4.45pm)

Edinburgh v Leinster (Saturday, 7.05pm)

Ospreys v Benetton (Saturday, 7.15pm)

Dragons v Connacht (Saturday, 9.35pm)

Cardiff Rugby v Ulster (Saturday, 9.35pm)

TOP EIGHT POINTS AND REMAINING FIXTURES (ALL COMPLETED 14 GAMES)

Leinster 66 - Edinburgh (A), Stormers (H), Lions (A), Bulls (A).

Stormers 54 - Sharks (H), Leinster (A), Munster (H), Benetton (H).