The Hollywoodbets Sharks will host the Vodacom Bulls today at 18:00 (SA Time) at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban, where the hosts hope to carry the momentum from their recent win.
The Sharks enter with confidence after a win over Saracens, while the Bulls are looking to recover from consecutive losses in the Champions Cup. Predictions suggest a close contest, with home advantage possibly favouring the Sharks.
Head coach JP Pietersen has made only one rotational change from the team that defeated Saracens in the Champions Cup, with Jordan Hendrikse starting at fly-half and George Whitehead moving to the bench. Hakeem Kunene replaces the concussed Aphelele Fassi.
The Bulls welcome back a host of first-choice Springboks who were rested last week, including the front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, and Wilco Louw. However, they are without key players like Canan Moodie, Ruan Nortje, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and face injuries to Jan Serfontein. Elrigh Louw will captain the side.
Willie le Roux slots in at fullback, Handré Pollard returns at flyhalf, and Embrose Papier takes over at scrumhalf. David Kriel and Sebastian de Klerk are recalled to the midfield and wing, respectively, adding experience and strike power alongside Harold Vorster and Stravino Jacobs.
Up front, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, and Wilco Louw form a heavyweight front row, while Jeandre Rudolph comes in at blindside flank. Elrigh Louw captains the side from No 8, with JJ Theron completing the loose trio.
The replacements have also been reinforced, with Akker van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Reinhardt Ludwig, and Devon Williams joining Nizaam Carr, Paul de Wet, and Stedman Gans.
Last Five URC Games
Sharks vs Bulls (20-17) on the 21st Dec, 2024
Bulls vs Sharks (44-10) on the 02nd Dec, 2023
Sharks vs Bulls (47-20) on the 31st Dec, 2022
Bulls vs Sharks (40-27) on the 30th Oct, 2022
Bulls vs Sharks (30-27) on the 4th Jun, 2022
Teams:
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 George Whitehead.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Elrigh Louw (c), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Devon Williams.