DailySun
This Saturday, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship will present two thrilling South African derbies as round 11 kicks off, marking the start of two Origins Rounds. During these matches, players will honor their rugby heritage by donning school or club socks.
The forthcoming rounds, steeped in local rivalries, are crucial in the chase for the South African Shield. Teams are gearing up for fierce competition on the domestic front as they look ahead to the 2024/25 Vodacom URC season, elevating the stakes.
In the first matchup, the Emirates Lions, currently in 13th position, will face off against the 10th placed DHL Stormers at their home turf in Johannesburg, kicking off at 14h30. Following that, the reigning SA Shield champions, the Vodacom Bulls, will go head-to-head with the Hollywoodbets Sharks across the Jukskei River in Pretoria at 17h00.
This game marks the second clash of the season between these teams, coming after their prior meeting on 21 December at separate venues—both the Capetonians and the Durbanites had emerged victorious on their home grounds.
The stakes are high for these matchups, significantly impacting the standings for all four teams. The Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks are vying for the top four, eager to secure home playoff positions, while the DHL Stormers and Emirates Lions are looking to break into the top eight or improve their standings in pursuit of playoff opportunities. Each South African team still possesses the potential to reach the quarter-finals.
The match at Emirates Airline Park promises to be electrifying, as the Emirates Lions aim to recover from four successive losses after an initial impressive run of four consecutive wins. At the same time, the DHL Stormers are eager to bounce back from two recent setbacks, including a narrow loss to the Vodacom Bulls in their postponed round one match last week.
In their last encounter, the Cape side achieved a convincing 29-10 victory on their home ground, a result the Emirates Lions are keen to overturn while striving to gain momentum at home with five pool games left.
However, the challenge for the hosts is formidable, as the DHL Stormers have triumphed in their last six meetings with this team. Furthermore, they have showcased superior offensive and defensive capabilities this season, scoring 59 more points over ten matches while conceding 71 points fewer than the Emirates Lions.
The upcoming showdown between the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks at Loftus Versfeld is equally critical for both squads.
With just six log points separating the teams, a victory for the Sharks is essential as it would close the gap with the top three teams in the rankings.
Adding to the intensity, the KwaZulu-Natal side clinched a dramatic 20-17 victory in their last meeting in December, bolstering their confidence ahead of this match, while the Vodacom Bulls will be motivated to avenge their earlier defeat, setting the stage for an exhilarating game.
Statistically, the teams are closely aligned offensively, with the Vodacom Bulls holding a slight five-point edge over the last nine matches. Conversely, defensively, the Bulls have performed better, allowing only 182 points compared to the Sharks’ 230.
Match Information:
Emirates Lions vs DHL Stormers
Date: Saturday, 15 February
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
SA Time: 14h30
Referee: Griffin Colby
TV: SuperSport
Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks
Date: Saturday, 15 February
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
SA Time: 17h00
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
TV: SuperSport
BKT United Rugby Championship, DHL Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa 28/12/2024
DHL Stormers vs Hollywoodbets Sharks
Salmaan Moerat of the DHL Stormers catches a kickoff
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/SteveHaagSport/EJ Langner
