Local derbies have always defined South African rugby from the 19th century, into the dark apartheid years and through to the post-isolation era.
The Currie Cup, Super Rugby in all its various incarnations, and latterly the United Rugby Championship (URC), have served as different stages over the years for teams with changing names. But the one thing they have had in common is to provide a platform for South Africa’s finest rugby players to thrive.
This weekend sees that tradition continue when the Bulls host the Stormers at Loftus and the Lions welcome the Sharks to Ellis Park in a salivating double header.
To add to the subplots, Bok wing Sbu Nkosi will start for the Bulls a little more than two months after a mental health break.
The Bulls also welcome back director of rugby Jake White who had an operation for intestine issues, while they also have the incentive of winning their first URC game against the Stormers.
The Stormers have won four matches in this competition against the Bulls, including the 2022 final by 18-13 at Cape Town Stadium. But that counts for little as Stormers coach John Dobson said he expected a big backlash at Loftus.
“It is a given that we must match the intensity of our great rivals up north, and we must match it from the outset. This comes through attitude,” Dobson noted.
“We must make our tackles, and we must play with accuracy and intelligence. When playing at altitude, game management is always definitive to getting a positive result.
“Personally, and this is meant with no disrespect to any other South African franchise, but it doesn’t get bigger as an occasion than visiting Loftus and playing a Bulls team that will be charged emotionally and motivated to giving Jake (White) the warmest of returns, after his recent absence recovering from surgery.
“We did the league double over them last season, away and then at home, and edged them in the final. Those were three incredibly close matches, and there was a one-score difference on all three occasions.”
For the Bulls, despite the mounting scar tissue, there is still a sense of confidence about the encounter. Three of those four Stormers defeats have been in Cape Town, while they haven’t lost a game at Loftus since February 2022. With an expected 40,000-plus crowd, it will be an intimidating afternoon for the Stormers.
On paper there are more established players in the Bulls squad, as ...