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Local derbies in South Africa are often entertaining and possess the ability to draw big crowds into stadiums, and this weekend won’t be any different.
The four SA sides will lock horns on Saturday when the Hollywoodbets Sharks host the DHL Stormers in Durban while the Lions battle the Vodacom Bulls in Johannesburg.
It will be the final weekend of URC action before a three-week break to accommodate the Six Nations.
A lot is at stake, and ATR looks at the implications and big talking points heading into the weekend.
Race for SA Shield still wide open:
One of the key talking points heading into this weekend is how the SA Shield log table has shaped up.
After playing three derbies each, it’s the Sharks who lead the pack on points difference after two victories in three matches, followed by the Stormers. The Lions have a similar record in third place, while the Bulls occupy fourth spot with two losing bonus points.
This weekend’s action will have massive ramifications on the log and could well decide which team puts itself in a position to clinch the piece of silverware.
In past seasons, the Stormers were the frontrunners in the SA Shield, but they were dethroned by the Sharks last season.
The Bulls have also won it once; meanwhile, the Lions are in search of their maiden title. It’s wide open at this stage, and a win for either side in the top three could make for a thrilling end.
If the Bulls lose to the Lions for a second consecutive time, they’ll be out of the running despite having two home derbies in February and March against the Sharks and Stormers, respectively. It could well be a three-horse race by the end of round 11, but a Bulls win away from home could stir things up.
Coastal derby 2.0: Hurting Stormers must fight back at the Shark tank
The Sharks’ magical 30-19 win over the Stormers in Cape Town last week exposed a few cracks in John Dobson’s side.
The Stormers were unbeaten in eight URC matches up until that point, and their first defeat came unexpectedly in front of a packed crowd that was silenced at the DHL Stadium.
In simple terms, the Stormers were outplayed, humbled, and slapped with a fat, greasy reality check. They were brought back to life, and a reaction in this weekend’s clash is highly anticipated.
There are two key questions fans will be asking: Can the Stormers bounce back, and can the Sharks build on the momentum they’ve developed under JP Pietersen?
The two coaches will be wary of making wholesome changes, although the Sharks are expected to be without some big players after suffering injuries in that tough encounter last Saturday.
The Stormers will need to improve on almost every facet of their game. Defence must be up to par, while the backline, led by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, must find a way to penetrate the Sharks’ stubborn defence.
Set-piece time will be a massive focus for both teams. The scrum battle was pretty even last week, but the lineouts weren’t perfect. The Sharks used the rolling maul to effect, while the Stormers struggled to get going in that department – and that will be a concern.
It will come down to fine margins, and the team that manages the game well and uses its chances will reign supreme.
A lot riding on the Jukskei derby:
The Lions will back themselves on home soil to do the double against the Bulls in the Jukskei derby on Saturday.
When the two sides met earlier this season, it was the Lions who ran out 43-33 victors at Loftus Versfeld and sent shockwaves through the competition.
The Bulls went on a winless run in the URC after that defeat, but their last two performances away from home have been pleasing. They defeated Pau in the Champions Cup before beating Edinburgh in Scotland for the first time last weekend.
It’s a Bulls side brimming with confidence up against a Lions team that has lacked killer instinct and the ability to close off games after recording two draws in as many weeks.
The two sides will be loaded with their big guns, looking to make a statement before enjoying a much-needed break from the game.
Momentum in rugby is everything, and the Bulls have all the momentum heading into this one. They’re starting to gel as a unit, and Johan Ackermann is seeing positive signs from some of his Springbok players.
The one concern Ackermann will have is that the Lions have only lost once against a local team this season, and they managed to topple the Sharks in Durban earlier this year.
The Bulls might be confident, but naivety will be the last thing on their minds as they’re fully aware of the dangers that an unpredictable Lions side possesses.
