Derby matches and wet weather serve as great equalisers. This has never proved more true than the upcoming Jukskei derby between the Lions and the Bulls.
These two Gauteng giants square off in one of the most anticipated derby matches on the URC calendar. The Jukskei derby centres entirely on bragging rights between the two teams.
The Bulls have fielded a strong team, which includes five Springboks, with the human wrecking ball Elrigh Louw making a comeback off the bench. Although the Lions had not announced their squad by the time of publication, they cannot field the star power that the Bulls possess.
Asenathi Ntlabakanye will be playing in Cardiff, while selectors remain uncertain whether they will choose Bronson Mills following his legal troubles. Team cohesion represents one aspect where the Lions might enjoy the upper hand, with their squad remaining together during the international window. New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann will have enjoyed a solid month with his squad, which will probably tip the scales back in the Pretoria outfit’s favour.
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The Bulls sit 6th on the URC log, only two places above the 8th-placed Lions. If the Lions manage to pull a rabbit out of a hat, they will leapfrog the Bulls. The men from Johannesburg have found form, winning their last two matches. One notable victory came against Ulster. The Lions played these matches at home while they struggled to gain form when travelling away.
The Bulls experienced a mixed bag of results on their tour – losing to Glasgow and Ulster, but securing a win against Connacht. At fortress Loftus, though, the Bulls defeated Leinster and the Scarlets in high-scoring matches.
Johan Ackermann possesses deep history with the Lions, where he spent a successful stint as head coach. Speaking to SA Rugbymag, Ackermann said he expected a highly physical battle.
“I know their mindset – they’ll believe they can come here and win,” he said. “They showed good form before the break and will play with confidence. They’ll try to increase the tempo, play quickly and bring physicality, so we need to be ready for that.”
