The North-South derby between the Bulls and Stormers continues to capture the imagination of South African rugby fans, with the news late on Thursday that Cape Town Stadium has been sold out for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash. The recent fortunes of the two sides could scarcely be more different, with the Stormers aiming for their 10th successive win in the URC and Champions Cup, while the Bulls have lost their past five games. The URC log shows it is the unbeaten, top-of-the-log Stormers, two points clear of the chasing pack, up against last season’s beaten finalists who seem to be paying for the off-season ructions that saw Jake White fired as coach and replaced by Johan Ackermann.
The new boss has steered them to just three wins in seven matches, which is why they are languishing in 10th place, two points off the playoffs. We’re in it together with Dobbo for Project 2029.pic.twitter.com/iwsPS31tNI The build-up has been dominated by the news that the embattled Bulls will receive help from the Springbok assistant coaches. This has not happened in this derby week, but the irony is the Cape media and some of the Stormers coaching staff have accused the Bulls of playing mind games in the build-up to their meeting.
The furore has almost entirely originated from the Cape, however, and quite why they are worried about the Bulls getting any tactical advantage when the move speaks to the problems Ackermann is having, is the early contender for the most bizarre storm in a teacup of 2026. The nature of derbies, however, is that the log positions are no predictor. The Bulls, backs against the wall, will take their most powerful outfit to Cape Town.
Read Full Article on The Sowetan
[paywall]
If the Bulls pack steps up, then they have the firepower in Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhardus Steenekamp, Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw and Wilco Louw, to deny the Cape side the front-foot ball momentum they thrive on. Despite none of the South African teams in action this weekend, the DHL Stormers still lead the way on the#VURClog after round eight ⛈️pic.twitter.com/g704ewiLNK Handré Pollard, the forgotten flyhalf of Springbok rugby despite steering them to two World Cup triumphs, will no doubt build upon whatever forward dominance his pack gains with erudite kicking and game management, in typical Bulls No 10 fashion. The match-up between Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the dazzling attacking Bok flyhalf who has been training this week in a return from injury, will be the most talked-about individual battle.
[/paywall]
