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38 Springboks, Two URC Derbies, One Massive Saturday

Adnaan MohamedNews, Preview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on 38 Springboks, Two URC Derbies, One Massive Saturday
By Adnaan Mohamed

South African rugby is rolling out the heavy artillery on Saturday, with 38 Springboks spread across two United Rugby Championship derbies promising a feast of collisions, bruising set pieces and simmering provincial pride.

The Stormers host the Sharks at DHL Stadium Cape Town, while the Bulls welcome the Lions to Loftus Versfeld for the latest chapter in the Jukskei rivalry. With 24 Springboks involved in the coastal showdown and another 14 at Loftus, the domestic stage will resemble a Test-match shop window with provincial colours.

The scene is set for the strongest exhibition of South Africa’s locally based Test quality this season.

The Cape derby carries extra theatre. The Stormers revive their famous Men in Black jersey, welcome 50 former players and their families, and celebrate Siya Kolisi’s return to familiar territory.

Sentiment will fill the stands, but the scoreboard will demand hard currency.

Kolisi’s presence adds leadership and emotional weight to a Stormers side featuring 11 Springboks in its match-day squad. Wilco Louw returns to the Cape franchise for the first time since 2020, setting up a heavyweight scrum engagement with Sharks prop Ox Nché.

Their duel deserves a prize-fight billing. One dominant shove, one mistimed bind or one costly penalty could swing territory, momentum and the match. In the front row, reputations are built one brutal reset at a time.

The Sharks arrive with a dangerous memory: their 30-19 victory in Cape Town on 24 January and two wins over the Stormers last season. JP Pietersen’s side knows the coastal road can be travelled successfully, making the derby a stern examination of John Dobson’s returning Springbok contingent.

Dobson has selected his strongest available team, while the Sharks bring their own international firepower, including Nché and Eben Etzebeth. The aerial contest and forward exchanges could turn DHL Stadium into a pressure cooker where every loose ball carries the threat of an explosive counterattack.

The Jukskei derby brings its own combustible ingredients. The Bulls and Lions have contrasting provincial identities and plenty of incentive to seize bragging rights in Pretoria. Last season, the Lions won at Loftus, while the Bulls triumphed at Ellis Park, proof that familiar surroundings offer no guaranteed shelter.

Beyond the established Springboks, both derbies give members of South Africa’s successful Under-20 teams a valuable measuring stick against players who have conquered the international arena. For Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff, the evidence will be found in the details: decision-making under pressure, physical resilience, tactical discipline and the ability to deliver when the contest tightens.

The next generation will have to earn every centimetre. Reputation might open the door, but performance determines who owns the jersey.

Saturday’s double bill is a celebration of local rugby’s depth and a reminder that provincial loyalty remains a powerful force. The Stormers want their black strip to become a symbol of renewed authority; the Sharks will arrive eager to spoil the homecoming. At Loftus, the Bulls and Lions will fight for control of a rivalry that rarely travels quietly.

Thirty-eight Springboks provide the star power. Two derbies supply the combustible atmosphere. The rest is up to the players, the pressure and the occasional referee’s whistle that will send an entire stadium into a philosophical debate.

South African rugby has cleared the stage. Now the derbies must deliver the fireworks.

JUKSKEI DERBY

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 13.30

Teams: 

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Cheswill Jooste

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Henco van Wyk, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horne (captain), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Siba Mahashe, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Jonathan Lottering (South Africa)
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)

COASTAL DERBY

DHL Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 16.00

Teams: 

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi,7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Eduan Swart,1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Ivan van Zyl, 23 Gianni Lombard

Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

Rassie unleashes Malcolm Marx flank Masterplan

Adnaan MohamedNews, Preview, Rugby, SpringboksLeave a Comment on Rassie unleashes Malcolm Marx flank Masterplan
By Adnaan Mohamed

Rassie ready to unleash World Player of the Year in new role against Wallabies

Rassie Erasmus is cooking up another Springbok surprise, and this one could see the World Player of the Year, Malcolm Marx, packing down far from his usual hunting ground.

Erasmus continues to redefine squad management, introducing 13 changes for the Test against Australia while building leadership depth through Andre Esterhuizen’s appointment as captain.

Malcolm Marx has been named among the replacements for Sunday’s showdown with Australia in Perth, but Erasmus has revealed the wrecking-ball hooker could be unleashed at flank when he storms onto the field.

Yes, flank.

The revelation adds serious spice to an already radically reshuffled Bok pack as Erasmus attempts to keep his warriors fresh while building the depth he believes will be crucial at the next World Cup.

“Even later in the game, if Ox Nché comes on, Jan-Hendrik might move to hooker, and we’ve been trying Malcolm on the flank as well,” Erasmus said.

That means Marx could swap the No 2 jersey for the loose-forward trenches, where his ferocious carrying, physicality and breakdown work could give the Wallabies another headache.

And if that sounds like classic Rassie rugby roulette, it is.

The Boks have also thrown another curveball at No 8, with Marco van Staden packing down at the back of the scrum alongside Elrigh Louw and Paul de Villiers.

But Erasmus made it clear that Van Staden’s biggest assignment is not wearing the traditional No 8 hat.

“There’s not a specific role for the eighthman apart from scrumming,” the Bok boss said.

The real battlefield will be the breakdown.

“If you take Paul, Marco, Elrigh, Jasper [Wiese] if he comes on, André Esterhuizen and others, I think the breakdown battle is going to be massive.

“Marco will have a massive impact there. Like Fraser McReight and the guys in their team, there are certainly guys who can disrupt a defensive breakdown. They’re really good at that and hopefully Marco can help sort that out for us.”

With Australia boasting breakdown pests of their own, Van Staden has been handed the dirty-work job.

The Boks have also built a safety net should the pack start falling apart.

If Louw or De Villiers are forced off, Franco Mostert can move into the loose-forward mix, while captain André Esterhuizen can shift to either blindside or openside.

Then there is Jasper Wiese, waiting in the wings for his 50th Test cap.

Jasper Wiese will earn his 50th Springbok cap from the bench Photo: X.com

Erasmus admitted he would have preferred to start the powerful No 8, but wanted insurance on the bench if the new-look starting combination hits turbulence.

“We’d have loved to start Jasper, but we need some security on the bench,” he said.

“We’re sure the guys who are going to start are going to be a little bit energetic and haven’t played for a while. There might be some combination hiccups.”

Up front, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Zachary Porthen will pack down either side of hooker Johan Grobbelaar.

The selections are part of Erasmus’ bigger body-management operation, with Grobbelaar getting his opportunity after Deon Fourie played three Tests in succession at 39.

“[Deon Fourie] playing three Test matches in a row at the age of 39, Grobbies deserves a chance now.”

Erasmus also stressed that Wessels and Grobbelaar have experience against Australia, adding another layer to the selection gamble.

“We’re trying to save the bodies, and manage the guys while winning but also building some squad depth.”

In Perth, therefore, the Boks are not merely taking a hammer to the Wallabies.

They are sharpening every blade in the toolbox.

And if Marx really does appear at flank, Australia could discover that Rassie’s bench has teeth in places nobody expected.

Sunday’s contest, kicking off at 11:45 SA time on SuperSport, is more than another Test. It is another examination of Erasmus’ greatest creation: a Springbok system where stars rest, leaders emerge and the conveyor belt never stops moving.

SPRINGBOKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen (c), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Quan Horn.