The Vodacom Bulls travel to Cape Town to battle the DHL Stormers today @ 18:15.
The DHL Stormers built up a big lead in the first match of the tournament, only to see the Cell C Sharks fight back in Cape Town to claim a dramatic narrow victory after the hosts had two men red-carded.
John Dobson’s side will look to put that right against the Vodacom Bulls this weekend, with the men from Pretoria bidding to maintain their winning start after a 24-9 victory over the Emirates Lions last weekend.
Vodacom Bulls coach Jake White – who welcomed back Duane Vermeulen this weekend – praised his side for finding “a way to win” in that match saw them cross the line for two late tries, but the former Springbok Rugby World Cup winning coach will expect an improved performance this time around.
Meanwhile, the DHL Stormers will be looking to avoid the disciplinary issues that saw them have two men sent off in their opening defeat to the Cell C Sharks, with Seabelo Senatla (wing) suspended for four weeks.
Dobson’s side led 23-7 in that clash before going on to lose 33-30, while young flyhalf Kade Wolhuter, who scored 13 of their points, has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
The last seven encounters between these sides have all been won by the home side. The Vodacom Bulls’ most recent victory over the DHL Stormers in Cape Town was a 19-16 triumph in a Vodacom Super Rugby fixture in June 2011.
The DHL Stormers’ last eight matches have been evenly split with four wins and four defeats, while their three previous matches at Cape Town Stadium have ended in just one win and two defeats, so they will be eager to an improved performance at their new home stadium.
The Vodacom Bulls’ only defeat in their last seven matches was a 12-45 defeat to the Cell C Sharks in Durban in the Kick-off Pools on 26 March.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. (c). Replacements (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Cornel Smit, 23 Edwill van der Merwe, 24 Andre-Hugo Venter, 25 Adre Smith.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Madosh Tambwe, 13. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Embrose Papier, 8. Duane Vermeulen (c), 7. Elrigh Louw, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Schalk Erasmus, 17. Lizo Gqoboka, 18. Jacques van Rooyen, 19. Janko Swanepoel , 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Chris Smith, 23. James Verity-Amm, 24. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 25. Reinhardt Ludwig, 26. Arno Botha, 27. Keagan Johannes, 28. Janco Uys.