There was a welcome return to the schedule for the URC’s South African franchises on Saturday - and they did not disappoint. This coming weekend two more local derbies are scheduled and promise to deliver once again some scintillating rugby with the results in the balance until the last minute of the match.
First up is when the Emirates Lions host the Vodacom Bulls at the Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg at 15h00.
Both sides lost their matches in the last seconds of their matches the past weekend and will look to turn their seasons around. The Lions are currently #12 on the log while the Bulls are at #15, one position from the bottom.
Both teams have some serious shortcomings in their lineups. The Bulls lost tighthead Mornay Smith in the first few minutes in their match against the DHL Stormers. This injury will make them even more vulnerable against arguably the best front row in South African rugby on Saturday.
The injury to flanker Vincent Tshituka is maybe even more costly for the Lions as his aggressive ball carrying is costing the Lions momentum on the attack with Straeuli, not the answer at #7.
I do not expect many changes to the sides that played the past weekend. One can, however, expect the Bulls to start with their best combinations in Johannesburg including the return to their starting lineup of regular captain Marcell Coetzee and match-winner, Morne Steyn.
The Lions already indicated that they will target the Bulls in the scrums and they will make sure that their pack will not drop the ball when on the attack in the Bulls 22m.
The Bulls on the other hand will run with their explosive loose forward combination hard at the Lions' "sometimes" lacking defence whereafter Morne Steyn will kick into the empty space at the back to give his speedsters opportunities to collect and score.
I expect a brutal battle in the first half with the game opening up in the second half. Two very similar and evenly matched teams that will once again fight until the end. Expect the Bulls to start like a house on fire while the Lions' comeback in the last quarter is legendary.
The second match of the weekend will take place in Durban when the Cell C Sharks host the DHL Stormers @ 17h05.
Both teams will be on a high and with little to no injuries after their matches during the past weekend, I can not see any changes made to their lineups.
An interesting match between two exciting teams is expected with the winner determined by the bounce of the ball. I do not expect a close game with the team that can get an early upper hand to win with a 15 plus margin.
The exciting Sharks' backline should make them the early favourites, however, if the same Stormers side travels to Durban they could again open up an unbreachable lead before the end of the first half.
United Rugby Championship Fixtures for the weekend:
28-Jan-22 Dragons vs Benetton
28-Jan-22 Ulster vs Scarlets
29-Jan-22 Emirates Lions vs Vodacom Bulls
29-Jan-22 Connacht vs Glasgow Warriors
29-Jan-22 Cell C Sharks vs DHL Stormers
29-Jan-22 Zebre vs Munster
29-Jan-22 Ospreys vs Edinburgh
29-Jan-22 Cardiff vs Leinster