The Lions, Vodacom Bulls and Stormers ensured another successful weekend for the South African franchises in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The Sharks, though, slumped to a 21-5 defeat by Edinburgh in a wet Durban, which ended their four-match winning streak in the URC, and they will hope to bounce back against the Dragons at Kings Park on Friday.

The Lions scored an impressive seven tries against Ospreys in a 45-15 win at Ellis Park on Friday, and Ivan van Rooyen’s men will fancy their chances against Edinburgh in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Bulls brushed aside the Dragons in a commanding 55-20 triumph at Loftus Versfeld , scoring eight tries, but Jake White’s charges have a tougher challenge next against Ulster in Pretoria.

Three powerful scrums – all near their own line – helped the Stormers squeeze out a 23-20 victory over Ulster, with the Capetonians now turning their attention to the wounded Ospreys on Saturday.

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