The Hollywoodbets Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs are looking to capitalize on their strong performances in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup from the previous week, while the Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers, and Emirates Lions are gearing up to make a comeback after their respective losses in the first round of the European competitions.

This Saturday marks an exhilarating day of matches, starting with the Vodacom Bulls hosting the Northampton Saints in Pretoria for the second round of the Investec Champions Cup. This will be followed by exciting clashes between the Leicester Tigers and the Hollywoodbets Sharks, along with Harlequins taking on the DHL Stormers in England.

In the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Emirates Lions will face Section Paloise at home in Johannesburg for their inaugural game of the season, while the Toyota Cheetahs are set to challenge Cardiff in Wales.

With this round being the second of just four in the pool stage prior to teams returning to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and other club commitments, all five teams are determined to secure victories to improve their chances of advancing to the Round of 16, the initial phase of the playoff next year.

Investec Champions Cup

The Vodacom Bulls are eager to utilize their home ground advantage and favorable weather conditions as they welcome the Northampton Saints to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. They are determined to bounce back from a disappointing 27-5 loss to Saracens last week and maintain their unbeaten record in Pretoria this season.

Currently sitting third on the Vodacom URC table, they find motivation in facing the Northampton Saints, who are eighth in the Gallagher Premiership with three wins from seven matches and are coming off a significant 38-8 victory against Castres Olympique last weekend.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks, meanwhile, are aiming to build on their 39-21 victory over the Exeter Chiefs, looking to achieve their fifth consecutive win (including three Vodacom URC victories and their round one success in the Investec Champions Cup) against the Leicester Tigers in England.

They need to be wary of the threat posed by the Tigers, currently ranked third in the Gallagher Premiership, despite having suffered a 42-28 defeat against Bordeaux Begles last week in their tournament opener.

The encounter between the DHL Stormers and Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop promises to be a thrilling showdown, with both teams struggling to find their footing in the Vodacom URC and Gallagher Premiership, placing them near the lower end of the standings.

Both teams faced challenges in their opening Investec Champions Cup matches, with the DHL Stormers falling 24-14 to Toulon and Harlequins suffering a 23-12 defeat against Racing 92.

EPCR Challenge Cup

The Emirates Lions will aim to capitalize on their home-field advantage and the support of enthusiastic fans as they host Section Paloise at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday in their second round EPCR Challenge Cup match. They are determined to bounce back from a 30-14 loss to Ospreys last week and build on their strong home form this season.

Having secured two wins in three home games in the Vodacom URC, they currently sit in fifth place on the table and head into this match with confidence, especially since Section Paloise has only four wins from their 11 Top 14 matches.

However, the Emirates Lions will remain cautious of underestimating their French rivals, who claimed victory over the Newcastle Falcons in their opening match of the tournament last week.

The Toyota Cheetahs began their campaign with a draw against Perpignan last week and are motivated to elevate their performance to secure a win against Cardiff.

Nevertheless, the Free Staters understand the necessity for a robust showing, as Cardiff currently occupies fourth place on the Vodacom URC log, boasting four wins in seven games.

Despite this, the Toyota Cheetahs can draw inspiration from Lyon’s recent 37-26 victory over the Welsh team last week as they aim to make a significant impact in their sole international competition this season.

Match information – Investec Champions Cup Round 2:

Vodacom Bulls v Northampton Saints

Date: Saturday, 14 December

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

SA Time: 15h00

Referee: Luc Ramos

TV: SuperSport

Leicester Tigers v Hollywoodbets Sharks

Date: Saturday, 14 December

Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester

SA Time: 19h30

Referee: Andrea Piardi

TV: SuperSport

Harlequins v DHL Stormers

Date: Saturday, 14 December

Venue: Twickenham Stoop, London

SA Time: 22h00

Referee: Ludovic Cayre

TV: SuperSport

Match Information – EPCR Challenge Cup Round 2:

Emirates Lions v Section Paloise

Date: Saturday, 14 December

Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

SA Time: 17h15

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe

TV: SuperSport