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SA Teams Sweep URC Round 13 | Bulls Lions Sharks Stormers Victorious

Adnaan MohamedNews, RugbyLeave a Comment on SA Teams Sweep URC Round 13 | Bulls Lions Sharks Stormers Victorious
By Adnaan Mohamed

South Africa’s four franchises turned home ground into a fortress during Round 13 of the United Rugby Championship, delivering a clean sweep of bonus-point victories that sent a surge of momentum through the playoff race.

The Vodacom Bulls, Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers all triumphed in front of their home supporters, creating a weekend that echoed with the rhythm of attacking rugby and relentless forward play.

With five pool matches remaining, the Stormers climbed to second on the standings with 46 points behind the Glasgow Warriors on 50. The Lions occupy seventh place with 38 points, the Bulls hold eighth on 35, and the Sharks remain in the hunt in 11th with 29.

Bulls power past Cardiff

The Bulls ignited the weekend with a commanding 40-7 victory over Cardiff Rugby in Pretoria.

Cardiff opened the scoring in the third minute when Harri Millard crossed for a try converted by Callum Sheedy. That early breakthrough stirred the Bulls pack into action. Marcell Coetzee crashed over from a driving maul before Johann Grobbelaar followed through the same channel minutes later.

The backline soon joined the charge as Kurt-Lee Arendse released David Kriel for the third try. Embrose Papier added another after sharp interplay, and Elrigh Louw gathered a perfectly weighted cross kick from Nizaam Carr shortly before halftime to give the Bulls a 33-7 lead.

Ruan Vermaak scored the only try of the second half as the Pretoria side secured a six-try bonus-point victory.

Scorers

Vodacom Bulls 40 (33)
Tries: Marcell Coetzee, Johann Grobbelaar, David Kriel, Embrose Papier, Elrigh Louw, Ruan Vermaak
Conversions: Handre Pollard (4), David Kriel

Cardiff 7 (7)
Try: Harri Millard
Conversion: Callum Sheedy

Lions roar at Ellis Park

The Lions followed with a spectacular 54-17 triumph over Edinburgh Rugby at Ellis Park.

The Johannesburg side stormed to a four-try bonus point within the opening 26 minutes through Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Darrien Landsberg and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, who celebrated his 100th appearance with a try. Bronson Mills added another before halftime as the Lions surged to a 35-0 lead.

Edinburgh responded with three second-half tries, though the Lions maintained their attacking rhythm. Angelo Davids crossed twice with blistering pace and Haashim Pead sealed the eight-try performance shortly before the final whistle.

Scorers

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions 54 (35)
Tries: Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Darrien Landsberg, Morne van den Berg, Bronson Mills, Angelo Davids (2), Haashim Pead
Conversions: Chris Smith (7)

Edinburgh 17 (0)
Tries: Ewan Ashman, Freddy Douglas, Matt Currie
Conversion: Cammy Scott

Sharks and Stormers complete the sweep

In Durban, the Sharks produced one of their most complete displays of the season, shutting out Munster Rugby 45-0 at Kings Park. The Durban side combined powerful defence with swift attacking strikes to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Stormers closed the weekend in Cape Town with a 29-21 victory over Dragons RFC. The Cape side blended forward power with attacking flair to claim another five-point haul and cement their place near the top of the table.

Across four cities and four matches, South Africa’s franchises marched in unison. Each victory carried the same message across the competition. The playoff race has entered its decisive stretch, and the local teams are charging forward with growing confidence.

SA teams brace for crucial URC weekend as playoff race tightens

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The race to the quarter-finals of the United Rugby Championship (URC) is gathering pace, and South Africa’s four franchises step onto the field this weekend knowing every tackle, turnover and try could shape their playoff destiny.

Round 13 promises a festival of rugby on home soil as the Vodacom Bulls, Fidelity Securedrive Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers host European opposition in matches that could shift the balance of the standings.

With six pool rounds remaining, the margin between first and ninth place is razor thin. Only 15 points separate log leaders the Glasgow Warriors and ninth-placed Connacht Rugby, leaving fourteen teams still chasing the coveted top-eight positions.

That compressed log has turned the URC table into a battlefield where every point is fought for like a loose ball in a ruck.

The DHL Stormers sit second and continue to lead the South African charge. The Vodacom Bulls and Fidelity Securedrive Lions remain firmly in the playoff conversation, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks know the road ahead demands near perfection if they want to muscle their way into the knockout rounds.

Bulls Seek Loftus Redemption

The Vodacom Bulls return to their Pretoria fortress at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night with a clear objective after last weekend’s bruising defeat to the DHL Stormers.

Standing in their path are Cardiff Rugby, a side that has tasted defeat only four times this season and arrives with confidence after a victory over Leinster Rugby.

The Bulls remain formidable on their home turf. Only two visiting sides have escaped Loftus with victories this season, and the altitude has long served as a silent teammate for the men in blue.

Statistically the Bulls carry the sharper attacking blade, having scored 83 more points than Cardiff so far. Cardiff’s defensive line has proven more resilient, which means the hosts must convert pressure into points when opportunities appear.

Missed chances proved costly last weekend. A more clinical performance could turn Loftus into the launching pad for another climb up the standings.

Lions Look to Roar Again at Ellis Park

Momentum has been building in Johannesburg where the Fidelity Securedrive Lions have rediscovered their bite.

Victories against the Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers have injected fresh confidence into the Pride ahead of their clash with Edinburgh Rugby at Ellis Park Stadium.

The Lions have lost only once at home in the competition and their attacking rhythm has been electric, with nearly 90 more points scored than the Scottish side.

Edinburgh, however, travel with a reputation for resilience. Only one of their away defeats has been by more than eight points, a statistic that suggests the contest could unfold like a tactical arm-wrestle before the tempo lifts.

If the Lions’ attacking spark catches fire again, Ellis Park could witness another high-tempo performance from a side that thrives on broken play and open grass.

Sharks Face Must-Win Battle Against Munster

The stakes could hardly be higher for the Hollywoodbets Sharks when they face Munster Rugby in Durban.

Two successive defeats have slowed the Sharks’ momentum and left them outside the playoff zone. The Durban side trails Munster by five places on the table and holds half as many victories after twelve rounds.

That scenario leaves little room for error.

The Sharks’ attack has produced slightly more points than Munster this season, though their defensive structure has leaked too many opportunities. Tightening that system will be critical if they hope to control the contest at Kings Park Stadium.

Munster’s reputation for physical forward play and tactical discipline means the Sharks will need to strike early and maintain intensity across the full eighty minutes.

Their recent back-to-back victories against the Stormers earlier in the season showed what the Durban outfit can achieve when rhythm and belief align.

Stormers Eye Top Spot Opportunity

Sunday afternoon in Cape Town could provide the DHL Stormers with an opportunity to climb to the summit of the URC table.

The defending champions host Dragons RFC at DHL Stadium with the knowledge that a bonus-point victory could propel them into first place should the Glasgow Warriors stumble against Leinster Rugby.

The Stormers rediscovered their rhythm last weekend after ending a three-match losing run with a powerful display against the Bulls. Their record of nine victories compared to the Dragons’ two places them firmly among the favourites.

Cape Town’s coastal venue has often felt like a tidal surge for visiting teams. When the Stormers’ attacking waves gather momentum, they can crash through defensive lines with relentless force.

A strong finish to the remaining six matches could secure a valuable home playoff fixture, a prize that would place the Stormers in a powerful position as the tournament approaches its knockout phase.

Match Information

Vodacom Bulls v Cardiff
Date: Friday, 20 March
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
SA Time: 19h00
Referee: Eoghan Cross
TV: SuperSport

Fidelity Securedrive Lions v Edinburgh
Date: Saturday, 21 March
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
SA Time: 14h45
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
TV: SuperSport

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Munster
Date: Saturday, 21 March
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 17h00
Referee: Sam Grove-White
TV: SuperSport

DHL Stormers v Dragons
Date: Sunday, 22 March
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 15h00
Referee: Andrew Brace
TV: SuperSport

Deon Fourie set for emotional Stormers return in Bulls showdown

Adnaan MohamedNews, RugbyLeave a Comment on Deon Fourie set for emotional Stormers return in Bulls showdown
By Adnaan Mohamed

Veteran Springbok loose forward Deon Fourie is poised for a welcome return for the Stormers after a gruelling two-year battle with injuries, with the Cape side hoping his presence can spark a response against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.

The 39-year-old has endured a frustrating stretch on the sidelines after a sequence of injuries that kept him out for most of the past two seasons.

Speaking to journalists at the Stormers High Performance Centre in Bellville on Wednesday after a training session in searing heat, Fourie said he was grateful to be back in contention.

“Yeah, feeling fresh,” Fourie said. “I think next month, almost exactly two years ago, I started the injury route. I’m back now and I’m very, very grateful to be back. I worked hard and credit to the physios and management that got me lucky.”

His recovery journey included an ACL injury followed by further setbacks.

“After my ACL I did four games and then my ankle, then one game and then my biceps,” he explained.

Fourie’s comeback could hardly come in a bigger fixture, with the Stormers travelling to Pretoria for one of South African rugby’s fiercest rivalries.

“It’s always special,” he said. “Playing against the Bulls, all the history involved in that and all the times I’ve played against them. It’s a great game to come back to. It gets the best out of everyone.”

Match fitness remains an unknown after such a lengthy absence, though Fourie believes the team’s demanding preparation will help.

“Game fitness and running fitness aren’t the same,” he said. “But after this week in 40 degrees for two days I think I’ll be fine. We’ll see. It’s up at Loftus with a bit of altitude as well, but luckily we’ve got a great player in Paul de Villiers on the bench who can step in.”

The veteran admitted the latest injury tested him mentally, even raising thoughts about retirement.

“Especially the last injury it was quite tough,” Fourie said. “There were a lot of emotions and a lot of questions running through my mind. But that was always my motto. I like to prove people wrong.”

For now, the focus is on simply getting through his return match.

“My first objective is to get through the first game injury free and do it well. Then we’ll see how the body is,” he said. “In two years I’ve only played about five games so maybe my age turned back two years. I’m only 38 now,” he quipped.

The Stormers head to Pretoria seeking to halt a three-match losing run, a stretch that has frustrated the squad.

“It’s important for morale and confidence,” Fourie said. “You need that W again. The frustrating thing the last three weeks was the quality of how we played. We’ll try to rectify that this weekend.”

Despite the pressure, Fourie expects the squad to embrace the occasion at Loftus, a venue known for its intimidating atmosphere.

“That’s why you want to go play there,” he said. “The atmosphere builds you, motivates you. That’s why we play rugby, to enjoy it as well and to win there.”

The Stormers will hope their returning veteran can bring the type of grit and breakdown steel that has defined his long career as they attempt to wrestle momentum back in the United Rugby Championship.

Highveld pride, coastal fire: Bulls-Lions derby looms as Stormers face Shark Tank test

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By Adnaan Mohamed

For Bulls and Lions supporters, this is not just another round of the Vodacom URC , it’s a weekend that could shape seasons, shift momentum and settle old scores. And hovering over it all is the coastal showdown in Durban, where the Stormers walk into the Shark Tank knowing that what happens there will ripple all the way up to the Highveld.

This is the URC at its sharpest: derbies that feel like knockout blows, log positions tightening like a defensive line, and belief becoming just as valuable as points.

Bulls vs Lions: Highveld pride at stake

Ellis Park will crackle long before kick-off. When Bulls and Lions meet, form becomes fragile and history heavy. The Lions still carry the memory of their 43-33 ambush at Loftus in November – a result that silenced Pretoria and reminded everyone that derby days obey no log table.

For the Lions, this match is about turning admiration into advancement. Back-to-back draws away to Perpignan (20-20) and the Ospreys (24-24) showed resilience and character, but also left a familiar ache: close, but not enough. Sitting seventh on the URC log with 24 points, they are still in the playoff conversation – but the gap to the leaders is starting to stretch like a missed tackle.

A home derby is the perfect place to change that narrative.

The Bulls, meanwhile, arrive with something they have not had for weeks: momentum. After seven straight losses across competitions, Johan Ackermann’s men have rediscovered belief with successive wins over Pau and Edinburgh. Like a pack that has finally found cohesion at scrum time, the Bulls are standing taller, tackling harder and trusting their systems again.

They have climbed to ninth on the log and are now within striking distance of their Gauteng rivals. Their Springboks are once again playing like world champions, and with Neil de Bruin added to the coaching mix, structure and clarity are beginning to show.

For Bulls supporters, Ellis Park is a chance to prove that this revival is real – not just a flicker, but a flame.

Stormers vs Sharks: a derby that matters to everyone

While Highveld eyes are fixed on Johannesburg, the Stormers’ trip to Durban matters deeply to Bulls and Lions supporters alike. The Sharks’ emphatic 30-19 win in Cape Town did more than end an unbeaten run – it reshaped the South African Shield picture and tightened the race for playoff places.

John Dobson did not sugar-coat the defeat, calling it “our worst performance of the season”. And he was right. The Stormers, previously No 1 in the URC for lineouts, mauls and scrums, were dismantled at the set-piece. Their usually fluent game dissolved into a fog of misfires and penalties as the Sharks imposed themselves with authority.

Now comes the harder test: responding in the Shark Tank, where confidence grows teeth and momentum feeds on noise.

For the Sharks, JP Pietersen’s impact has been immediate and tangible. Four wins from six since taking interim charge, and that Cape Town performance was the clearest sign yet of a team rediscovering its bite. From 14th to 11th on the log, they now sit just two points outside the top eight – very much alive.

It was not a lucky win either. It was comprehensive, controlled and settled long before the final whistle. The Stormers did not simply play badly; they were never allowed to breathe.

For Bulls and Lions fans, the Durban result could be pivotal. A Sharks surge complicates the playoff race. A Stormers response could reassert Cape Town dominance. Either way, the ripple effect will be felt far beyond the coast.

The log tells the story

The Stormers have slipped to second, three points behind Glasgow Warriors, though with a game in hand on the Scots and other overseas sides. They remain contenders – but now under pressure.

The Lions hold seventh, competitive but restless. The Bulls are climbing, confidence swelling. The Sharks are charging from behind.

This is the stage of the URC where seasons tilt.

Why this weekend matters

For Lions supporters, this is about finally landing a knockout blow in a tight fight.
For Bulls supporters, it is about proving the revival has substance.
For everyone, the Stormers vs Sharks derby is a measuring stick – of resilience, belief and championship credentials.

The URC is no longer a marathon. It is a series of collisions. And this weekend, every one of them counts.

URC Round 11 fixtures (SA times)

Saturday, 31 January

  • Lions vs Vodacom Bulls – 2:30pm
  • Sharks vs Stormers – 5pm

Photo Credit: Rashied Isaacs

Stormers shift focus to European Champions Cup after edging Bulls in derby

Adnaan MohamedNews, RugbyLeave a Comment on Stormers shift focus to European Champions Cup after edging Bulls in derby
By Adnaan Mohamed

The bruises from the north–south derby are still tender, but the Stormers have little time to admire their handiwork. The Vodacom Bulls were a familiar foe, a known storm navigated through discipline and resolve. Europe, however, offers a different climate altogether, and Champions Cup week arrives with no mercy for hesitation.

The Stormers’ 13–8 URC win over the Bulls was a contest decided by defensive steel and belief rather than fluency. Yet it was precisely that type of victory which sharpened the focus of head coach John Dobson as the conversation turned north, toward London and a showdown with Harlequins.

Dobson revealed that even as the derby teetered on a knife-edge at 8–8, his faith in the Stormers’ defensive structure never wavered.

“It’s going to sound a bit full of hubris, but I never was worried in that game,” Dobson said.

“It sounds curious and I really don’t mean that with any kind of arrogance, but the way we defended even in the first half, it just didn’t feel like we were under any sort of defensive pressure.

“Our defence was really, really good and I didn’t feel like they were going to open us up.”

That confidence was rewarded when Ntuthuko Mchunu powered over in the 79th minute, extending the Stormers’ unbeaten run across the URC and Investec Champions Cup to 10 matches. More importantly, it reinforced a mindset which captain Salmaan Moerat believes has become second nature within the squad.

“I do think it becomes a habit. We don’t want to sound arrogant at all, but we’ve been in deeper holes before,” Moerat said.
“If you look back at that Munster game in Limerick, I don’t think many people gave us a chance. In that first half we were down to 13 men for 20 minutes away from home, and we managed to win that game.
“That does give you belief that there’s something in the tank and that the boys will pull it through.”

That belief now travels with the Stormers into Europe, where the broader stakes extend beyond a single fixture. Dobson has been clear that South African teams must shift from participants to contenders if they are to reshape the Champions Cup landscape.

“I think South African teams need to try and make a statement to host playoffs in Europe, and we’re in a position after that Bayonne win where we can have a go at it,” he said.
“But to win in London will be really tough.”

Harlequins pose a very different puzzle to the Bulls’ direct approach. Their game thrives on tempo, width and broken-field chaos. It’s he rugby equivalent of moving from trench warfare to aerial combat. For the Stormers, the challenge will be maintaining defensive cohesion without blunting their own ambition.

Yet if the derby victory offered a glimpse of anything, it is that this Stormers side is increasingly comfortable living in the tension. They may not dominate territory or possession, but they dominate moments. And in Europe, moments decide seasons.

Champions Cup week will test their depth, discipline and nerve, but the Stormers arrive not as tourists, but as a team convinced it belongs on this stage.

Stormers v Bulls: When Bok Futures and Proven Steel Collide

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By Adnaan Mohamed

There are derbies, and then there are rugby events that feel bigger than the competition table. The Stormers versus Bulls north–south clash at a sold-out DHL Stadium on Saturday belongs firmly in the latter category. It’s a fixture where reputations are tested as brutally as defensive lines.

The first URC blockbuster of 2026 arrives wrapped in symbolism. Damian Willemse will make his 100th start for the Stormers. Ruan Nortje returns to captain the Bulls. And at flyhalf, the generational baton hangs tantalisingly between two Springboks: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Handré Pollard.

One represents the present tense of South African rugby’s future: instinctive, elastic, daring. The other is its hardened past and still-relevant present: precise, economical, forged in World Cup fire. Saturday is less about rivalry than rugby arithmetic: what happens when flair meets control under maximum pressure?

Stormers: Tempo, Power and Cape Town Edge

The Stormers receive a significant boost with the return of Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu, restoring balance to a side that thrives on momentum. Willemse’s presence in midfield alongside Wandisile Simelane gives the hosts ballast and punch, while Cobus Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu form a halfback pairing designed to accelerate the game.

Director of Rugby John Dobson framed the occasion without hyperbole:

“This is one of the biggest club rugby matches in the world and will be played in front of a sold-out DHL Stadium. It should be an incredible experience for everyone there.

We know that we will need to be at our absolute best throughout the game to come away with the result.”

Out wide, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Leolin Zas provide finishing pace, with Warrick Gelant lurking at the back like a counter-attacking wildcard. Up front, captain Salmaan Moerat marshals a pack that blends aggression with continuity, supported by Evan Roos and Ben-Jason Dixon in the loose — players built for derby combat.

Bulls: Structure, Steel and World Cup Calm

The Bulls arrive in Cape Town with a side subtly reshaped for control rather than chaos. Ruan Nortje’s return to the starting XV restores authority to the pack, while Marco van Staden adds breakdown venom. The front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw remains intact, signalling a clear intent to contest the set-piece battle.

Behind them sits a familiar Bulls spine: Pollard at 10, Willie le Roux at 15, David Kriel in midfield — experience stacked upon experience. Canan Moodie’s move to centre injects line-breaking speed, while Paul de Wet starts at scrumhalf against his former side.

Head coach Johan Ackermann underlined the method behind the selection:

“We’ve assessed the Sharks game and made adjustments where needed. Ruan’s leadership is vital, and bringing in players like Canan Moodie and Marco van Staden gives us the right balance for this contest. It’s about alignment and intensity as we start the year.”

The Key Battlegrounds

The obvious headline is flyhalf, but the game may hinge elsewhere. The midfield collisions between Willemse and Moodie will dictate gain-line success. The breakdown duel with Roos and Dixon versus Van Staden and Louw, could determine territory. And off the bench, both sides possess finishers capable of swinging momentum late.

This is not a derby built on nostalgia. It is one shaped by present ambition and future consequence. The Stormers want tempo and emotion. The Bulls want structure and silence.

Cape Town will decide which philosophy holds firm when the noise peaks.

Team Sheets

DHL Stormers:
15 Warrick Gelant; 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Ruan Ackermann; 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c); 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Sazi Sandi, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee.

Vodacom Bulls:
15 Willie le Roux; 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Khuta Mchunu, Ruan Vermaak, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Devon Williams.

Match Information

Date: Saturday, January 3
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 18:00 (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Bok coaching talk adds spice to Stormers-Bulls North-South URC derby

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Adnaan Mohamed

The Stormers–Bulls rivalry rarely needs a spark, but this week a murmur from the Springbok camp has crackled through the build-up, adding intrigue to Saturday’s Vodacom URC north-south derby at Cape Town Stadium.

Stormers defence coach Norman Laker admitted the Cape side was surprised by SA Rugby’s decision to allow members of the Springbok coaching and performance group (Felix Jones, Jerry Flannery, Duane Vermeulen and Andy Edwards) to assist the Bulls on a short-term basis.

For Laker, the timing felt as unusual as a line-out call changed mid-throw.

“It was quite interesting for me to see that, in such a big week, they’re bringing the Springbok coaches in to help the Bulls,” Laker said.

“Normally, the national coaches don’t really help teams when there are derbies involved. That’s always been the case.”

He stressed there was no accusation of foul play, only a break from tradition.

“In the past, guys like Felix Jones and Daan Human have assisted franchises when we were playing overseas opposition. Felix has helped us before, Daan has come in to help with scrummaging – but never ahead of a local derby,” he explained.

Pressed on whether the Bulls might gain an unfair edge, Laker kept his feet behind the advantage line.

“I can’t say if it’s a fair or unfair advantage. I just find it interesting. That’s all I can really say.”

Despite the chatter, Laker insisted the Stormers remain focused on their own execution rather than who is holding the clipboard across the halfway line.

“It doesn’t matter who coaches the team this week. A north-south derby is a game where players don’t need motivation. They’ll come out guns blazing, backs against the wall, wanting to win.”

Veteran scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, set for his first Stormers-Bulls derby after eight seasons in England and France, echoed the sentiment of controlled aggression.

“You hear from the boys how big this fixture is,” Reinach said. “It’s going to be physical, it’s going to be intense, and it’s about who fronts up on the day.”

Ackermann: ‘Perspective, not playbooks’

On the Highveld, Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann moved to clear the air, rejecting suggestions that Springbok assistant coaches were actively embedded with his squad during derby week.

“I never asked for that, and Rassie also said it wouldn’t be ideal,” Ackermann explained. “The thought that they would be in camp this week is ridiculous, and I challenge any press photographer to get a picture of a Bok coach at Loftus this week – it was never our intention.”

Ackermann said speculation had gained momentum without the full picture.

“The story was spread without the facts, and nobody bothered to speak to me. The truth is simple: I assessed everything and wanted a fresh pair of eyes to look at our defensive structures and bounce ideas off.”

He clarified that his request was about alignment rather than assistance in match planning.

“I said, you’ve always made your team of coaches available, and I’d love it if someone like [coach] Jerry Flanerry could come in and look at our defensive systems and share some ideas. I don’t expect the Bok coaches to put a plan together on how to win – that is my job as head coach. I have my own system; it was never my idea to secure plans.”

Any collaboration, Ackermann added, would be rotational and realistic.

“You can’t expect the Bok coaches, one of whom lives in Ireland, to be at Loftus every week. I’d be happy if they rotated, which is where the idea of involving Duane Vermeulen and Felix Jones came in.”

He drew a clear boundary between advice and authorship.

“I would never ask Rassie for game plans, merely a careful eye on what we are doing. This is about alignment and perspective, not about outsourcing our coaching.”

As the derby approaches, the debate has already kicked and chased. Soon, though, the noise will fade, and only the collisions will speak. This is proof once again that no amount of expertise off the field can replace muscle, mindset and moments when north meets south.

Bulls lose Serfontein, Jooste for Leinster clash

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The Vodacom Bulls will face Leinster in a United Rugby Championship clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday without two of their backline sparks, Jan Serfontein and Cheswill Jooste, both injured in last week’s 53–40 shootout against the Ospreys.

Harold Vorster steps in at inside centre, with Sebastian de Klerk moving to the wing and Stravino Jacobs recalled. In the pack, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg retains the No 4 jersey after covering for Cobus Wiese’s HIA, while Sintu Manjezi joins the bench.

Bulls coach Johan Ackermann expects Leinster to arrive wounded but dangerous after their 35–0 defeat to the Stormers.

“Credit to the Stormers, but that was probably a Leinster performance we won’t see again,” he warned.

“They’ll want to rectify it and we expect a lot more pressure.”

Ackermann also bristled at his side’s soft defence in Swansea:

“It wasn’t good to concede that many points. Leinster will punish us if we repeat that.”

And he has no illusions about the defensive stranglehold Jacques Nienaber’s Leinster side usually applies.

“Jacques Nienaber’s defensive setup seldom gives a team as many opportunities as they did against the Stormers,” Ackermann said.

“That’s why we aren’t taking anything from that loss and focusing on improving ourselves.”

BULLS – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 N Janse van Rensburg, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Juann Else, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.