The Vodacom United Rugby Championship returns with a bang this weekend, with the first South African derby on the cards in Gauteng when the Vodacom Bulls host the Lions in Pretoria at 14:00 (SA Time), with both teams set on remaining in the top eight.
The hosts will also take some confidence from their recent record against their neighbours – they have won their last four Vodacom URC fixtures against the Lions, dating back to March 2023.
But the Lions are travelling north on the N1 on the back of winning their last two Vodacom URC fixtures, both at Ellis Park, against Scarlets and Ulster.
Playing away in South Africa is not their strong suit, though. The Lions have lost their last five local derbies on the road, while their most recent away win in the Vodacom URC was against Zebre in October 2024.
Elrigh Louw returns to the Vodacom Bulls against the Lions in this weekend’s Vodacom URC showdown at Loftus Versfeld following an absence of ten months due to injury.
Ironically, his last match also came against the Lions, during which he sustained a catastrophic knee injury. Now, after months of rehabilitation, the Springbok loose forward is primed to make his comeback off the bench in a vital match.
Louw is one of five Springboks called up by coach Johan Ackermann. Among these is hooker Akker van der Merwe, also back from injury, and Willie le Roux, who remains critical to the Vodacom Bulls’ ambitions.
Reinhardt Ludwig, so successful on the recent overseas tour, retains the captaincy.
Coach Ivan van Rooyen has made several enforced adjustments to the Lions.
In the pack, RF Schoeman starts at tighthead prop in place of Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who is unavailable due to Springbok duty. The Lions are also without Morne van den Berg, with Nico Steyn continuing at scrumhalf.
In the backline, Kelly Mpeku replaces the injured Angelo Davids, with Eduan Keyter shifting to the opposite wing.
There is further movement on the bench, where Eddie Davids is in line for his Lions debut after joining from Griquas, while Sibabalo Qoma returns from a long injury layoff and Haashim Pead is included as outside-back cover.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig (c), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Alu Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Jean Else, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Cheswill Jooste.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Sibabalo Qoma, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Haashim Pead.