State of the URC: Bok-heavy Sharks face mini-crisis
The Sharks suffered a third loss in the Vodacom URC, while the Bulls, Lions and Stormers all won in round four.
Despite loading up on Springboks for their clash against Ulster at Kings Park, the SHARKS struggled to find cohesion and paid the price – going down 34-26.
Discipline and defensive lapses again proved costly for John Plumtree’s men, who remain winless but will see their upcoming clash with the bottom-placed Scarlets as a chance to get off the mark.
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With just three points, the Sharks are currently languishing in 14th on the log.
In Johannesburg, the LIONS ended a three-game losing streak to start the season with a hard-fought 29-18 victory over the Scarlets.
Replacement prop Morne Brandon grabbed a brace, while Quan Horn and Franco Marais also dotted down as the Pride dominated up front to claim a morale-boosting first win of the season.
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The win lifts the Ellis Park outfit from 15th to 13th on the log with five points.
On tour, the BULLS showed grit to edge Connacht 28-27 in an ill-tempered nailbiter in Galway.
Former Stormers scrumhalf Paul de Wet scored twice in his first start for the Pretoria-based outfit, while Willie le Roux and Sebastian de Klerk were also instrumental in the attacking display.
Johan Ackermann’s men, who remain sixth on the log, face Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday.
The STORMERS maintained their unbeaten start to the URC with a 31-13 bonus-point win over Zebre in Parma.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starred with a brace of tries and 16 points, while Paul de Villiers, Warrick Gelant and Ruhan Nel also crossed the whitewash.
The Stormers are level on 19 points with Munster – the only other unbeaten team in the competition – but top the log thanks to a superior points difference.
The Capetonians now shift their focus to Benetton in Treviso.
Round 4 results:
Edinburgh 43 Benetton 0
Connacht 27 Bulls 28
Dragons 17 Cardiff 24
Lions 29 Scarlets 18
Sharks 26 Ulster 34
Leinster 14 Munster 31
Zebre 13 Stormers 31
Ospreys 17 Glasgow 42
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Round 5 fixtures:
Friday, 24 October
Glasgow vs Bulls, 8:45pm
Saturday, 25 October
Lions vs Ulster, 1:45pm
Sharks vs Scarlets, 4pm
Benetton vs Stormers, 6:30pm
Dragons vs Ospreys, 6:30pm
Leinster vs Zebre, 6:30pm
Cardiff vs Edinburgh, 8:45pm
Munster vs Connacht, 8:45pm
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