Sharks can secure playoff berth and cement top-four spot with victory against Ulster in final URC overseas clash

With a victory this weekend in their third-last round-robin match in the United Rugby Championship (URC), the Sharks could creep closer to the Bulls or defending champions the Glasgow Warriors on the overall log.

Only five points off their compatriots in fourth place, the Durbanites will face Ulster in their final tour game of the season on Saturday (8.35pm start). A victory will keep them in the hunt to finish in the top four with the side still aiming for second place in the tournament.

After their nail-biting victory over Edinburgh last weekend, they know only a much-improved performance will be good enough to trump Ulster, currently in 10th on the log, who is desperately hunting a place in the top eight.

A win for the South Africans won’t just benefit them, but also the Stormers, in the eighth place, who are being hunted by Ulster.

Of course, it’s not just about rocking up at the Kingspan Stadium and banking a victory over Ulster. The Sharks will have learnt from the Cape side’s misfortunes in Northern Ireland where they opened a healthy 17-0 lead a couple of weeks ago to lose the match 38-34.

The Sharks haven’t fired on all cylinders in the last couple of matches and after the last-gasp win in the Scottish capital, it’s about time they start showing what they are capable of as a team. It should not take flashes of brilliance from individuals to win games, although those contributions are welcomed.

But only a team effort will be good enough and after exploring the streets of Scotland and Ireland together, head coach John Plumtree will hope his side will find that synergy needed on Saturday evening.

They are struggling to gel as a team, especially on the attack, and despite having so many gifted players, including a handful of World Cup-winning Springboks, they can’t get running with the ball in hand.

It’s the Sharks’ defence that’s helped them out of trouble in Edinburgh. If they are to make a dent in Ulster’s chances of reaching the top eight, it must be with a concerted team effort on both sides of the field.

Another win away from home will secure them of a spot in the playoffs and set them up nicely for their final two matches at Kings Park in a couple of weeks. They can pump everything into the Ulster duel, return to South Africa, have a week of rest thanks to the EPCR semi-finals, and prepare for the Ospreys and Scarlets.

Even if they do not win on Saturday evening, the Sharks will still be in a good position to finish in the top four for a home quarter-final, but they will likely only be able to reach third at best.