Bulls and Lions Win Big as 3 South African Sides Book URC Quarter Final Spots

• The Vodacom Bulls thumped the table-topping Leinster, as they finished the season in the sixth spot
• The Emirates Lions failed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the United Rugby Championships
• The Stormer and Bulls will face each other in an all-South African clash in the URC’s quarterfinals

The Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) reached the quarter-final stages, and three South African sides are still in the running to win the title.

The Stormers, Vodacom Bulls, and Cell C Sharks, all made it into the tournament's knockout stages but face stiff competition going forward.

As noted by The South African, the Bulls will take on the Stormers in a South African derby, while the Sharks will have to take on Leinster.

The Irish side topped the URC table and are one of the favourites to win the title. While Leinster are riding high after their impressive season, they are also coming off their worst defeat ever in the URC.

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Bulls hammer log leaders Leinster

SuperSport reported that the Irish side were thumped by the Bulls in their last URC fixture. Having already qualified for the quarters, Leinster sent their academy team.

They paid the price for that, as the Bulls won the game 62-7 at Loftus Versfeld. The defeat was also Leinster’s worst-ever loss in European competition. For the Bulls, the win saw them finish sixth on the overall standings and book their place against the third-placed Stormers.

The Lions score 50

The other South African side in the tournament, the Emirates Lions, failed to finish in the top eight places but ended their season on a high. The Lions beat Italy’s Zebre 50-35 in their final game, SA Rugby reported.

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The South African side led 31-22 at half-time and saw off the game in the second 40 minutes, as they condemned Zebre to another defeat. The Italian side finished the season without picking up a single win.

Lions keep URC hopes alive

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the Emirates Lions still have a chance of securing a playoff spot in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The South African side kept their hopes alive when they beat the Vodacom Bulls in an action-packed match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

The Lions secured a 29-25 win but didn't have it all their own way.