The Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks secured valuable away victories for the South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) teams on their one-week tour of Europe this weekend, while the DHL Stormers lost out narrowly in what marked their first defeat this year.
The Bulls dominated their clash against Zebre Parma, scoring six tries to one by the hosts for a rewarding 45-7 victory on Friday, while the Sharks outplayed Benetton 29-7 in Treviso on February 26, scoring four tries.
The Stormers, meanwhile, were pipped 19-17 by Connacht in Galway in windy conditions, with a conversion being the difference between the teams on the scoreboard in the end, while log leaders Leinster broke away in the second half against the Emirates Lions for a 21-13 victory in Dublin.
These results saw the Sharks displace the Stormers as the top-ranked South African franchise on the log in eighth position with 26 points, while the Capetonians finished the weekend in ninth place with 24 points, followed closely by the Bulls in 10th place with 23 points.
The Lions are further down the standings in 14th place with 12 points.
