Five storylines to watch in URC including derbies as Test auditions and the Bulls hoping to snap unwanted streak

Dylan Coetzee

Split with Leinster v Munster, Stormers v Bulls and Glasgow boss Franco Smith.

The United Rugby Championship returns this weekend with a full house of mouth-watering derbies to feast on during the festive period.

Ahead of what is sure to be a blockbuster round of action, Planet Rugby takes a closer look at some storylines for the weekend.

Inter-pro derbies as Ireland auditions

It does not get much bigger in Irish rugby than Leinster facing Munster, a game loaded with Test stars and Test hopefuls. One does not have to look too far back to recall a close encounter between the two, as it was a Jack Crowley drop kick that sent Leinster crashing out of the URC semi-finals last season.

Leinster have had a strong start to the season and will be desperate to get back to winning silverware that’s evaded them for a couple of years whilst Munster are settling into playing with the champions tag. Standing up in these kinds of matches goes a long way for any Test hopeful, as Ireland boss Andy Farrell will be watching closely.

The other inter-pro derby between Ulster and Connacht also serves as a good platform for players to stand up and show what they are about. It has been a tricky period of late for Ulster who will hope to use this clash to return to winning ways. It is set to be a brilliant clash in Belfast, with both sides loading up with their big guns.

Can the Bulls break their losing streak in the North-South derby?

Meanwhile, in South Africa, players and fans are gearing up for the biggest rivalry the country offers as the Bulls travel south to face the Stormers in Cape Town in front of 36,000+ fans. This weekend’s hosts have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, winning six in a row, one of which included a victory in the Grand Final of the inaugural URC campaign.

However, things are different this season, with the Bulls looking far more settled and balanced after a brilliant start to the URC. Jake White’s side looks in dangerous form, especially since the return of their Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks.

It has been a completely different start for the Stormers, who really struggled without their Bok players, and the results have reflected that. For sure, there are positive signs, but John Dobson will want more from his players. The Capetonians somehow managed to beat La Rochelle late on last weekend in a game that could be a catalyst for their season.

This all sets up for an intriguing clash where an in-form side tries to break their hoodoo. If the Bulls win it could sound a shift in the rugby hierarchy in South Africa whilst if the Stormers get over the line it could be the start of a surge heading into the second half of the season.

1872 Cup rivalry loaded with fascinating battles

Another massive derby will take place on Friday between two of Scotland’s biggest teams in a game with some interesting match-ups. It will certainly be a strange feeling for experienced scrum-half Ali Price, who will start for Edinburgh against his parent club Glasgow Warriors. Not only will he be looking to show Franco Smith what he is missing, but the star will be looking to get one over his opposite number, George Horne, with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend watching on with the Six Nations in mind.

Up front, there is an interesting battle between two Scotland internationals as Pierre Schoeman packs down against Zander Fagerson, with both players looking to set the tone in the set piece and give their teams a platform to work with.

Elsewhere, Huw Jones gets a rare start on the right wing with his first task attempting to contain the robust Duhan van der Merwe, who has recently found some good form again. The Scotland teammates will be slugging it out, and if Jones manages to impress, it just adds to the value he already offers.

Welsh sides to slug it out for supremacy

It has been a difficult time for the Welsh sides both on and off the field with Ospreys the highest placed of the four teams in 11th on the table. Still, it is derby time as the side jostle for position in the country’s hierarchy.

Cardiff face Dragons in the first of the two games, with the former notching up some decent results this season, including a win over the Stormers at home. However, some results haven’t gone their way, and they will hope to use this clash to push up the table. The odds are stacked against the Dragons, who are the basement dwellers at the moment. That being said, derby rugby can inspire some of the best performances, and they will be looking to do just that.

The Ospreys clash with the underperforming Scarlets, who have had a tough season in all competitions that recently included a loss to Georgian side Black Lion in the Challenge Cup. The situation is certainly not ideal, furthering the importance of a derby win. Meanwhile, for Ospreys, it is a chance to try break free and put some daylight between them and any other Welsh side.

Important points on offer

Tis the season for regional derbies, and the festive fixtures will have more than just bragging rights at the local pub or around the braai on the line.

While players jostle for Test recognition with their fellow countrymen, the clubs will be eager to take some crucial log points off their rivals.

Starting in Scotland, where Glasgow Warriors have the opportunity to top the table at Christmas, with Leinster only playing their derby on Boxing Day, as they host Edinburgh in the 1872 Cup. That will add a bit more spicy to an already heated fixture. It’s incredibly competitive at the top of the table as a heavy defeat could see Franco Smith’s side drop below Edinburgh, who are currently in fifth.

The first Irish derby, in Belfast, is another close battle, with Ulster holding just a one league point advantage over the travelling Connacht. A slip-up for either side could see them plummet not only into the bottom half of the table but drop as much as four places. On the flip side, the victors could see themselves competing for a top-four spot before year’s end.

Zebre endured a torrid 2022/23 season, losing all 18 of their URC matches, but have started the new season with a win and a draw, resulting in a 14th-place league position. They have a chance to take some points off their rivals, Benetton, before Christmas, but they will be wary of the side that will have their sights set on a top-four spot as they head to Parma ranked sixth and just one point adrift of Munster in fourth.

The North-South derby in South Africa could prove to be a massive turning point for the Stormers as they welcome the high-flying Bulls to Cape Town. 13 points separate the two sides in the league standings, and a win for John Dobson’s side could see them move into the top half of the table. But the Bulls will be out for blood, having lost the six fixtures against the Stormers, and may also have the top spot at Christmas within their grasps.

The Welsh URC sides have had their struggles this season, and the festive fixtures are bound to be crucial as they look to improve their lowly standings, with all four featuring in the bottom half of the standings. The Ospreys lead the way out of the quartet, having won three of their seven matches.

Finally, Leinster have lost just once this URC season but faces the daunting task of heading to Thomond Park the day after Christmas. A win will see them return to the top of the table, but Munster will be hellbent on ensuring they are not successful.

READ MORE: Ireland prospects aplenty for Munster and Leinster while South African sides at full-tilt for North-South derby

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