Bulls and Sharks' stint in Europe will shape SA's URC title hopes

The teams will secure home advantage for the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals - and do the Lions and Stormers a favour - if they achieve two wins on their respective tours of Europe.

- By Jon Cardinelli

The European Champions Cup quarterfinal showdown between Leinster and the Glasgow Warriors last week was billed as a dress rehearsal for the United Rugby Championship (URC) final.

Leinster now sit at the top of the URC table and Glasgow are in second place. Both have been widely tipped to feature in the decider on 14 June.

If all predictions come to pass, neutrals will hope for a more competitive contest, given that the recent clash in Dublin ended in a 52-0 triumph for Jacques Nienaber's Irish charges.

URC door open for SA contenders

It's possible that Leinster will finish the season with both trophies.

Toulouse captain Antoine Dupont has been sidelined with an injury, and the reigning champions may miss the inspirational scrumhalf in the latter stages of the Champions Cup. As a result, Leinster may end a title drought that stretches back to 2018.

Closer to home, the South African franchises which have been knocked out of the European tournaments and will focus solely on the URC for the remainder of the season will hope that Leinster's obsession with the Champions Cup continues to leave the door open for other teams to win the URC.

Over the past three years, Leinster have lost three consecutive Champions Cup finals and, in the wake of each defeat in Europe, have failed to progress beyond the URC semifinals.

Leinster remain an industry leader in so many respects, but as the record reflects, they are more vulnerable in the URC than they are in the Champions Cup.

Jousting for third place