9 October 2026
The Fidelity ADT Lions are bracing for a brutal United Rugby Championship (URC) local derby against a formidable VODACOM Bulls outfit this weekend. Scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys believes this clash kicks off a critical phase of the season that will test the squad’s depth and resolve. The Johannesburg-based franchise enters a demanding six-match run featuring five URC fixtures and a crucial Champions Cup encounter.
“I think we've got a six-game block now, which is three URC, one Champions Cup, and then two more URC. So this game sets up massively,” Redelinghuys said. The former Springbok prop expects a massive physical onslaught as both teams hunt for early dominance in the South African Shield standings. "Obviously we want to start well with the derbies, and we think the Shield is something that we were proud of last year."
The Pretoria visitors are expected to unleash their heavy artillery following the conclusion of recent international duties. Redelinghuys anticipates a battle against a Springbok-laden side, though selection tactics remain a guessing game until the official team announcements. "They've got, I think it's 10 SA players that's coming back. Are they going to play them to start, or are they going to rotate?"
The Lions pack receives a timely boost with the integration of destructive loosehead prop Boan Venter. The former Cheetahs and Edinburgh front-rower has seamlessly slotted into the Johannesburg engine room since his recent arrival. "The guys immediately clicked with him. So it says a lot about his attitude, about his... personality," Redelinghuys remarked.
Venter's set-piece prowess adds serious weight to the Lions' scrumming arsenal as they prepare for a traditional execution in the trenches. The coaching staff is equally pleased with his high work rate and dynamic contributions in open play. “He's massive in the set piece. Obviously, for him, we feel his work-on is in the loose, and we've been seeing great progress there.”
The set-piece contest promises to be a definitive marker in what is always an uncompromising Jukskei derby. Both teams pride themselves on forward dominance, making the scrum a vital launchpad for attacking momentum. “South Africans, we love our set piece, hey. It was easy when we played the Welsh teams or the Irish teams. Now it's SA versus SA. Two proud scrummaging packs.”
The Lions must navigate their own injury concerns and roster rotation ahead of the weekend's kickoff. However, the mindset remains firmly fixed on securing a dominant performance on home soil against their oldest rivals. “The set piece is a massive, massive part of our game. We wanna use that as a platform to attack from... But we are well aware that the Bulls bring a very different picture than what Ospreys and Leinster brought.”