Five storylines to watch in the URC including the Coastal Derby, surprise package and 1872 Cup

Dylan Coetzee
Split with Leinster stars, Stormers v Sharks and Benetton full-back Rhyno Smith.

Split with Leinster stars, Stormers v Sharks and Benetton full-back Rhyno Smith.

The United Rugby Championship continues in the festive season with more derbies this weekend from Cape Town to Dublin.

Ahead of yet another intriguing round of action, Planet Rugby takes a closer look at five storylines to follow this weekend.

Can the Sharks find their feet?

It has been far from the dream return to the Sharks for head coach John Plumtree with the Durban side sitting second last on the table after winning just one from seven games so far this season.

There have been flashes of what the Sharks can do but they are yet to link it all together. One could never doubt the quality of the squad loaded with Springboks and their Rugby World Cup medals.

Perhaps it is adjustment to the new game model and team culture that has them misfiring, but one gets the feeling they will inevitably click at some point. A derby clash might just be that for the Sharks who will be absolutely desperate to shock the Stormers in their backyard.

https://twitter.com/SharksRugby/status/1739589769712005144

Stormers have the chance to continue climbing up the table

The Capetonians had a poor start themselves to the season, losing four games on tour in the North as their Springboks were still away. Since their superstars returned, there has been an impressive upturn in form as they beat La Rochelle in the Champions Cup and the high-flying Bulls last time out.

Suddenly the Stormers are back in the top eight and have a nice schedule comingup with their next United Rugby Championship match outside of South Africa in May. This puts them in a great position to ‘storm’ up the table and make a charge for those coveted home play-off spots.

They still need to get the job done with the Sharks a dangerous entity despite their form. The experienced stars at the Stormers will know that form means nothing in derby rugby.

Benetton to continue building on strong start

It has been refreshing to see Benetton kick on this season where they have made themselves very difficult to beat at home as the Stormers found out earlier this season. The Italians are in third having only lost two of their eight games this season.

Facing them this weekend is another derby against Zebre and it would be difficult to bet against the Treviso side, who look so much more assured at the moment.

A win could see them cement their place in the top four and in those important home play-off spots. Massive credit must go to everyone in the club as there is clearly something cooking in Italy.

Glasgow Warriors have a chance to stamp authority

Another side that have been brilliant again is Glasgow Warriors, who continue to evolve and sparkle under the tutelage of Franco Smith. This was perfectly depicted last time out when a depleted side still managed an impressive 22-10 win at home against Edinburgh in the 1872 Cup.

It is the return leg this time around with the game on Scotland’s hallowed turf, Murrayfield Stadium, making it the ideal opportunity to not only claim the 1872 Cup but also underline their authority in the rugby hierarchy in the country.

The second-place team would be hard to bet against, particularly with a 12-point lead on aggregate going into the second leg.

Inter-Pro derby delight

A full set of Irish derbies lie in wait for fans this weekend with Ulster travelling to Dublin to face Leinster and Munster making the trip to Connacht.

Leinster appear to be finding their edge again in tight games where the execution of fundamentals is even more important. The more experience they have with Jacques Nienaber’s defensive system, the harder they will be to beat and, while Ulster have managed to get some results, they haven’t quite hit their straps of late. It would be a massive scalp for the visitors to get the win in what is likely to be another wet and tightly contested derby.

Meanwhile, it may be an opening for Connacht as Munster have been absolutely ravaged with injuries of late and just don’t quite seem themselves as a result. The hosts have had a mixed start but now their internationals have been back for a while and a big derby win would go a long way. For Munster, it is all about stopping the bleeding and even with the injuries they are certainly capable of walking away with the points.

READ MORE: The Springbok giant that will be ‘fired up’ against his old club in Coastal Derby

Benetton Treviso