# South African Franchises Prepare for Intriguing URC Quarter-Finals

Key Highlights :

1. The South African franchises are in the quarterfinal knockout phase of the United Rugby Championship.

2. There is no looking back or contemplating what might or might not have been. The combatants only have a single bite at progressing further in the URC.

3. The defending champions, the Stormers, face the Bulls at their Cape Town Stadium fortress on Saturday afternoon.

4. The Sharks have already made the long European haul to play the rampant Leinster on Saturday evening.

5. Jacques also gets the opportunity to shrug the irritation off his chest, as the sporting brains also touch on the cloud hanging over Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s knee injury prognosis and back in positive space, Brad Binder’s great ride in the Spanish MotoGP.

     The second season of the United Rugby Championship (URC) has been an intriguing one, with South African franchises dominating the qualifying league phase. Now, the cross-continental series is heading into the quarterfinal knockout phase this weekend, where there are literally no ‘second chances’. The Bulls, Sharks and Stormers are all in action, with only one of the three teams advancing to the semifinals.

     In this week’s Talking Point podcast, host Trevor Cramer is joined by Citizen Head of Sport, Jacques van der Westhuyzen to discuss the weekend’s games and the key areas that will make all the difference. Ulster kick off the weekend when they go head-to-head with Connacht in an all-Irish affair on Friday night, followed by the Stormers facing the Bulls at their Cape Town Stadium fortress on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks have already made the long European haul to play the rampant Leinster on Saturday evening, while Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors host Munster in the late kick-off.

     The podcast also touches on the cloud hanging over Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s knee injury prognosis, and the positive news of Brad Binder’s great ride in the Spanish MotoGP. The hosts also reveal their FLOP of the Week and who earns their GOLD STAR in the popular insert.

     The quarter-finals of the URC are sure to be an exciting event, with South African franchises looking to progress further in the competition. With no second chances and the stakes high, the action is sure to be thrilling. Tune into the Talking Point podcast for all the latest news and predictions from Trevor and Jacques.

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