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The Vodacom Bulls will host the DHL Stormers tonight at Loftus Versveld @ 19h00. Although the Preparation Series has no trophy or log, expect these two teams to give their all for a win.
The Bulls start this match as the favourites. Their trophy cabinet is stocked with all the "important" trophies in South African rugby. They ripped Eastern Province apart with 87-10 and then travelled to Mbombela and won 48-31 during the Preparation Series.
The Stormers's 2020/21 season was not that successful. They lost against the Cheetahs 33-34 and then scraped home 38-32 in Kimberley during the Preparation Series.
One has a feeling that Jake White is confidently building his squad for the up-and-coming Rainbow Cup. He is introducing a few "senior" players while also blooding one or two youngsters. His bench is loaded if something does go wrong, however, the lack of the X factor that might be necessary to win the game during the last minutes of the game is missing.
The Stormers on the other hand have said that they travel to Pretoria to win. No substitutions will be made on a preset plan.
Although the Bulls "must" win this game, the Stormers have the talent to upset the Bulls big time. I do think it is going to be a massive battle up front with the two big inside centres used as battle rams to carry the ball back to their forwards. This is where the winner will be determined.
Kade Wolhuter is busy cementing his place at flyhalf with the Bulls guaranteed to concentrate on the talented youngster. His kicking abilities might just add the points the Stormers lacked to surprise previously.
The Bulls is the favourites to win with the Stormers expected to walk off the pitch with a smile on their face.
Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane and a host of experienced seniors are set to return for the Vodacom Bulls.
Apart from Nyakane coming in at prop, Ruan Nortje and Marco van Staden return at lock and openside flank respectively.
In the backline, former Junior Springbok scrumhalf Zak Burger, who made the move from Kimberley to Pretoria three weeks ago, gets his first run for the Vodacom Bulls.
Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans resume their midfield partnership, with Marco Jansen van Vuren shifting to left wing and Marnus Potgieter being named on the extended bench.
Richard Kriel replaces his brother, David, at fullback with the latter being rested.
The bench also sees an influx of experience as Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), Jacques van Rooyen (prop), Tim Agaba (loose forward) and veteran Springbok Morné Steyn (flyhalf) are all set to add fresh legs later in the match.
“The North-South derby is always a ferocious affair and this match will be no different,” said Vodacom Bulls Director or Rugby, Jake White.
“The fact that it is a warm-up does not make it easier. We’ve named a little more experience for this meeting which was always in the plan as we gather momentum to the upcoming season.”
Salmaan Moerat will captain the DHL Stormers. Moerat is one of several players to come into the starting line-up for the North-South encounter at Loftus Versfeld, which kicks off at 19h00 on Friday, and will be refereed by AJ Jacobs.
In the backline, Damian Willemse is at fullback and will link up with wings Leolin Zas and Edwill van der Merwe, while Rikus Pretorius comes into the midfield and Paul de Wet makes a start at scrumhalf.
In the pack, Moerat will partner David Meihuizen in the second row and there is an all-new front row of Leon Lyons, Chad Solomon and Sazi Sandi.
There is also significant experience on the replacements bench, with the likes of JD Schickerling, Herschel Jantjies and Tim Swiel all getting their first run in the preparation matches.
DHL Stormers coach Labeeb Levy said that the team is looking forward to the challenge that awaits them.
“It has been a good week of preparation so far and we are focused on showing what we have worked on when we take the field on Friday," said Levy.
“We have some talented players coming into the mix this week, along with some players that have taken their opportunities in the previous two games, so we want to find some fluency as a unit."
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Werner Gouws, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Janko Swanepoel, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements (from): 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Jan Uys, 20 Tim Agaba, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Diego Appollis, 24 Nolan Pienaar, 25 Raynard Roets, 26 Marnus Potgieter.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Leon Lyons. Replacements (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Tim Swiel, 24 Chris Schreuder, 25 Cornel Smit.