Bite-the-bullet weekend looms for SA's URC sides

News24 Sport chief writer

The start of the crown-jewel 2023 Six Nations in the northern hemisphere only a week later should, theoretically, serve as a factor in favour of South Africa’s teams when the United Rugby Championship resumes this weekend.

How much – if any -- URC game time relevant Test players from the leading Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Italian clubs get in this round remains to be seen, but thoughts of the major international tournament a few days onward may prove distractive anyway.

But would the contending South African outfits in the bread and butter tournament be able to capitalise on any eyes-off-the-ball characteristics?

They have perils of their own to wrestle – including all being in distant, currently very cold climes -- in a full URC roster where results look especially difficult to predict in this round.

All four sides from our shores have undergone some exhausting long-haul travel in recent weeks, for commitments both in that competition and the Champions/Challenge Cups.

Not helping is that defending champions the Stormers – the only side among the domestic quartet not already camped in Europe -- have to drag themselves back on the plane now to tackle Ulster with only a six-day match turnaround (to Friday night) for the near top-of-table encounter.

While John Dobson’s charges come off heartening, successive victories in the Champs Cup (London Irish away, then Clermont at home) to clinch a home tie in the round of 16 against Harlequins, some of his key players will be running on close to empty after a particularly demanding amount of globetrotting.

They are expected to dilute their team – though not to the fullest “B-team” extent – simply as a realism-based step for the Belfast fixture.

The head coach will