The United Rugby Championship action continues this weekend, with a keen focus on two South African derbies.
Opening up Saturday’s double-header is the clash between the Bulls and the Lions at Loftus Versfeld, before the Cape Town Stadium hosts the meeting between the Stormers and the Sharks.
It’s a perfect weekend for the SA sides to shine, with Ulster vs Connacht the only other game in the URC this weekend taking place on Friday night.
Bulls vs Lions
It’s a Jukskei Derby rematch in Pretoria on Saturday, as the Bulls and the Lions meet for the second time in two weeks in the United Rugby Championship.
Both northern sides are attempting to build momentum into the second half of the tournament’s maiden season, with the first months ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.
And it’s the Bulls with the upper hand having pocketed a handsome, 34-10 victory at Emirates Airline Park last weekend.
There’s just the one starting change for the home team, as Zak Burger replaces Embrose Papier at scrum-half.
Jaco Kriel is named captain as the visitors make several changes, with Tiaan Swanepoel and Matt More also drafted into the starting side.
Kick off is at 15:00 SAST.
Stormers vs Sharks
The Stormers and the Sharks renew hostilities in their Coastal Derby at the Cape Town Stadium in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.
It was impossible to split the pair when they met in Durban a week ago, with the men from the Cape taking advantage of their hosts’ indiscipline to strike back for a late draw at Kings Park.
Warrick Gelant’s return to the starting side is the headline news from the home side’s camp, with the Springbok star having puzzlingly been parked on the bench for the last two weekends by coach John Dobson.
He replaces Damian Willemse, while veteran Brok Harris earns a start that will being up 100 appearances in a blue and white jersey.
It’s all change in the half-backs for the visitors, with Argentina international Tito Bonilla called up at fly-half and Jaden Hendrikse coming in at nine.
Lukhanyo Am’s switch to inside centre catches the eye for Sean Everitt’s side, with Jeremy Ward crowbarred into the 13 shirt in the Mother City.
Kick off is at 17:05 SAST.
United Rugby Championship: Predictions
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing. Score margins are taken from statschatnz.