State of the URC: SA giants collide in Cape Town
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Can the Stormers dazzle without Manie Libbok, and will the Bulls be able to make up for the absence of injured bruiser Elrigh Louw when they stomp into Cape Town on Saturday for a crunch Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby?
The Stormers and Bulls are set to resume their gripping rivalry in a round-one fixture, which was postponed from 21 September last year to avoid clashing with the Currie Cup final. It comes at a vital stage of the season for both sides.
The BULLS are currently third on the log, with six wins in eight matches, seven points behind the Glasgow Warriors with two games in hand. The Bulls have a game in hand on the chasing Sharks in fourth, and two games in hand on Glasgow, who are seven points ahead in second place. A bonus-point win in the Mother City would stretch their lead on the Sharks and keep the pressure on the Warriors as the Bulls push for a top-two finish that would seed them to host in the playoffs.
They will be without captain Elrigh Louw, who suffered a serious knee injury in the 35-22 win against the Lions at Ellis Park two weeks ago, while veteran Springbok fullback Willie le Roux could start at 10.
READ: Willie staying to call the shots for Bulls?
The STORMERS will be looking to bounce back from a 36-12 defeat to an understrength Leinster in Dublin that left them 12th on the log. But they are just three points outside the playoff spots with a game in hand on nine of the teams above them. They will, however, be without flyhalf Manie Libbok, who suffered a knee injury that may is suspected to be season-ending.
In the corresponding fixture last season, the Stormers triumphed 26-20 – their seventh URC win against the old foe in as many matches.
But Jake White finally got one over coaching counterpart John Dobson at Loftus three months later when the Bulls stampeded to a 40-22 victory.
South Africa’s other two teams will resume their URC campaigns on Saturday, 15 February.
The LIONS, who are 13th on the log after a four consecutive URC losses, will face the Stormers at Ellis Park, with the fourth-placed SHARKS up against the Bulls at Loftus.
This week’s fixture:
8 February
Stormers vs Bulls (2pm)
Round 11 fixtures:
14 February
Edinburgh vs Zebre (9.35pm)
Ospreys vs Leinster (9.35pm)
15 February
Lions vs Stormers (2.30pm)
Bulls vs Sharks (5pm)
Benetton vs Ulster (7.15pm)
Munster vs Scarlets (7.15pm)
Connacht vs Cardiff (9.35pm)
16 February
Dragons vs Glasgow (4pm)
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
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