It’s actually quite fitting that the Stormers and Bulls will be the only sides squaring off in a United Rugby Championship clash this weekend, for a number of reasons.
For one, it’s a North-South United Rugby Championship derby. No South African rugby fan needs any explanation as to why the meeting between the age-old rivals is always a big one.
Then there’s the bragging-rights factor and, of course, what’s at stake for both sides in terms of the United Rugby Championship (URC) standings.
Saturday’s game (kick-off 14:00) was initially scheduled for 21 September last year as a Round-One fixture. It was postponed as it clashed with the Currie Cup final scheduled for that day.
Now, in front of what is expected to be a packed Cape Town Stadium crowd, Jake White and John Dobson’s teams will have all eyes on them in the only URC fixture of the weekend.
Stormers can draw confidence from home-ground success
While the Stormers (2.39) have certainly seen better days, the one thing they can be chuffed with is their success rate at home in local derbies.
The Cape side hasn’t lost a game against fellow South African opposition on home turf since December 2021. Since that loss against the Lions (1.60), the Stormers have won 12 on the trot against SA sides. Still, with a keen eye on the URC standings – and the fact that they need to get their campaign back on track – it’s safe to say that no complacency can be expected from the hosts going into this derby.
Everything to play for in the United Rugby Championship
The visitors will be aiming to cement their place in the top four, with one eye on a top-two finish. The Stormers are in a very different boat.
They have managed just four wins in nine URC games this season. While their chances of cracking into the top-four are unlikely but possible. Dropping this game will make even reaching the top eight and qualifying for the Champions Cup difficult
But all that is at stake is exactly what makes this derby a salivating one.
Bulls won’t be short on belief
After that ‘Dobbo 7, Jake 0’ taunting the Bulls had to endure during their losing streak against their rivals, it would be an educated guess to assume that they would be desperate to avoid the birth of another Stormers winning streak.
The Bulls ended their suffering when they snapped that run in March 2024 with a convincing win in Pretoria. This time around, however, they will be in front of a passionate home crowd. The Cape side overcame their previous derby opponents, the Sharks, just before the new year. Thus, the Bulls have every reason to be cautious.
Ultimately, Stormers have more at stake
The Stormers will need no reminding of the remaining derbies in the near future. They will play against the Lions in Johannesburg and a return fixture against the Bulls in Pretoria two weeks later. This makes winning this fixture a non-negotiable if they want a top-eight finish to remain a realistic goal.
