31 October 2026
The third-placed Vodacom Bulls look to protect their unblemished home record when they host the 14th-placed Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld tonight. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:00 SAST in a Round 5 United Rugby Championship encounter.
Head coach Johan Ackermann has rotated his squad heavily, opting for 13 changes to the matchday 23 following last week’s bonus-point win over Ulster.
The Welsh visitors arrive as clear underdogs but carry significant attacking momentum after pushing the DHL Stormers to the limit in Cape Town. Despite securing just one victory from their opening four matches, the Llanelli-based outfit has developed a reputation for clinical line breaks, hard running, and relentless support play. They present a genuine threat out wide if the newly configured Bulls defensive lines fail to gel early on.
The tactical battle will pit the Scarlets' high-tempo offensive game against a formidable Bulls pack eager to dictate the collision. The visitors' defence has been their Achilles' heel this season, conceding soft points when pressured under a heavy territory game. Curwin Bosch starts at flyhalf for the hosts and will look to exploit the highveld altitude to pin the Scarlets deep in their own territory.
The Vodacom Bulls will also be careful not to underestimate the 14th-placed Scarlets, who tested the DHL Stormers to the limit last week with their hard running on attack and impressive line breaks and support play, although the hosts will undoubtedly enter the match as favourites with a clean slate of home wins so far this season and home ground advantage counting in their favour. Similarly to Ulster, the Scarlets have become a real attacking threat this season and have tested the opposition well, despite winning only one of their opening four matches.
However, Johan Ackermann’s team have proven that they are capable of dismantling the opposition if their forward pack and backs combine well on the day, and they will definitely aim to achieve that this weekend against the Welshmen, whose defence has been their Achilles heel to date.
Should the Bulls’ tight five establish set-piece dominance, the home side is well positioned to wear down the makeshift Welsh defence in the second half. A victory for the Pretoria franchise will secure their position at the top tier of the URC table ahead of the upcoming international break.
Pundits predict a Vodacom Bulls victory by between 15 and 22 points and highlight that while the Scarlets' adventurous backline will puncture the line, the Bulls' set-piece power and squad depth will overwhelm the depleted Welsh pack at altitude.
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alu Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Sebastian de Klerk, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
Scarlets Rugby: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Ioan Jones, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Gabe McDonald, 11 Isaac Murray-Macgregor, 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Sam Lousi, 5 Alex Groves, 4 Tom Allen, 3 Harri O’Connor, 2 John McKee, 1 Corey Domachowski. Replacements: 16 Isaac Young, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Harvey Cuckson, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Jac Davies.
