Stormers vs Bulls Venue: Greenpoint Stadium, Cape Town
Stormers vs Bulls Date: Saturday, February 8
BetXchange Stormers vs Bulls Odds:
History
The Six Nations is in full swing, so the only URC match this weekend is in South Africa, where the Sotmers host the Bulls in Cape Town.
This is technically a Round 1 match, despite all the European teams having played their Round 1 games on the weekend of September 20 and September 21. This isn’t even the last match of Round 1, with the Sharks hosting the Lions at Kings Park on March 8 to complete the fixtures.
This makes this a vital catch-up game for the South African pair. All the European teams have played 10 games, with the Stoemrs having played nine and the Bulls sitting on just eight matches completed.
This helps explain why the Stomers are in 12th place, four positions outside the final playoff spot in eighth. They have four wins and five defeats from their nine matches, with 21 points for their efforts this season. The bottom half of the playoff spots are congested. A win for the Stormers here would move them above a host of teams into eighth, possibly even into seventh, with a bonus point victory.
The Bulls have been dominant in most of their matches this season. They are an impressive third on the log, even more remarkable given that they have two games in hand on most of the field.
They have won six games and lost just two, and they have six bonus points. This puts them on 30 points, seven behind the Glasow Warriors and 18 behind runaway leaders Leinster. A win here would help them chase down the Scottish side.
Stormers
The Stormers have serious injury issues ahead of this derby. Their missing stars include Ruhan Nel, Manie Libbok, JD Schickerling, and Ali Vermaak, so their ideal starting lineup has been seriously reshuffled.
This will be most felt in the backline. The fit-again Dan du Plessis is a welcome sight in the midfield, where he will be paired with Wandisile Simelane. The halfback pairing is untested, with Jurie Matthee and Stefan Ungerer facing a Bulls side known for its work around the breakdown.
Frans Malherbe and Sti Sithole are still a dominant paid of props, but the front row depth will be tested without Vermaak and Neethling Fouche available.
Bulls
On Saturday, a significant positional shift sees veteran fullback Willie le Roux starting in the No. 10 jersey for the Bulls. Le Roux was outstanding off the bench last weekend as the Bulls beat the Lions 35-22 last weekend, using his experience and skill to create space for those around him.
Le Roux will play alongside Embrose Papier in the halves, with Devon Williams continuing at fullback. Le Roux is one of five changes to the starting side from last time out, with Reinhardt Ludwig and JF van Heerden needing to step us as they replace a pair of injured Springboks in flanker Elrigh Louw and lock Ruan Nortje.
Best Bets
It is always fun when these two meet in what many consider South Africa’s biggest domestic rugby rivalry.
The Bulls are food favorites here, and I like them to win by more than a converted try. This is mainly due to the injury issues the Stormers have, with the halfbacks being a real worry in a match where they cannot afford to make mistakes, especially in either 22.
Bulls to win by 8 to 14 points at 17/5 with BetXchange is a bet I would be looking at.
