Another bruising encounter is expected when the Bulls and Stormers face each other in the second North vs South derby on Saturday in Pretoria.
Image: Henk Kruger Independent Media
It's another double-header of United Rugby Championship (URC) local derbies in Gauteng on Saturday that's bound to provide some sparks.
The Bulls host the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld (5 pm kick-off) in their return North vs South derby, with the Cape side in desperation mode, trying to keep their campaign alive. Waiting on them will be a confident Bulls side, currently leading the SA Shield in the competition and looking to pull away from the rest of the teams to retain the bragging rights amongst the local franchises.
It's a critical derby for the Stormers, who had to bid farewell to their scrummaging leader, Steven Kitshoff after the Bok announced his retirement following a career-ending neck injury. They'll need all the scrummaging prowess to stop the Bulls from overpowering them, as the case was in Cape Town in the first derby.
While the Stormers always find a way to fight back against their arch-rivals, they must do everything possible to prevent a quick start from their hosts.If that happens, the Bulls could run away with the game for a rare double victory in a year over the Stormers.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the Sharks are back in action against the Lions at Ellis Park (2.30 pm start).
The Durbanites return to Gauteng, looking to claim another derby win after thumping the Bulls in their last visit with a relatively young squad. Some Springbok names are back in the fold for the Sharks and they will go all out against their depleted hosts.
The Lions look to have lost influential fullback Quan Horn and outside centre Henco van Wyk to injury for this duel. The duo would've wanted to rectify some mistakes that cost their team last weekend at Loftus Versfeld. It will be a mammoth task to beat a strengthened Sharks, but the Ellis Park team has shown they can fight back when under pressure.
Kitshoff's retirement is a big blow to Springbok rugby. Still, the double World Cups he has won in 2019 and 2023, coupled with the Rugby Championship, his United Rugby Championship crown with the Stormers, and a Junior Springbok gold medal in 2012, will ensure he goes down as one of South Africa's most decorated players.