Bulls vs. Sharks Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Bulls vs. Sharks Date: Saturday, February 15
BetXchange Bulls vs. Sharks Odds:
History
The URC hosts another pair of South African derbies in Round 11 this weekend. The Lions will host the Stormers at Ellis Park before the Sharks travel to Pretoria to take on the Bulls. We will focus on the latter match here.
A quick look at the log shows how important this match is. The Bulls and the Sharks have played nine games, one less than their European rivals. Even so, they sit inside the playoff places, with the Bulls in third and the Sharks right on their heels in fourth.
The Bulls are working on opening a gap between that third-place spot and the chasing pack. They have 35 points from nine matches played, just two points back from the Glasgow Warriors in second. Winning their game in hand will put them ahead of the Scottish side.
The Sharks need to keep winning to stay out of what will become a dogfight down the stretch for the last few playoff spots. They are level with Cardiff on 29 points, two ahead of Scarlets and three better off than Munster in seventh.
Just two points separate Edinburgh in eighth place from Ospreys in twelfth. The Sharks want to stay out of that mess.
Simply put, a Bulls win will see the top three work their way clear, and a Sharks win will put them in a great position moving forward.
Bulls
The Bulls come into this one in good form. Last weekend, they beat the Stormers on their own patch for the first time since the team teams joined the URC. Sure, it came with some luck after Clayton Blommetjies missed a clickable conversion with less than two minutes left on the clock, but those are the breaks you need at this level.
Veteran fullback Willie le Roux will again start at number 10 for the Bulls this weekend. This is an experiment that director of rugby Jake White is committed to, even with Le Roux having a few teething problems as a 15 thrust into the fly-half shirt. Le Roux is playing the spot with starting pivot Johan Goosen sidelined for another couple of months.
The Bulls are missing Ruan Nortje, Elrich Louw, and Marcell Coetzee through injury and rest protocols. This means that the captaincy has been handed to 22-year-old Reinhardt Ludwig, a player with exceptional leadership skills who is destined for great things.
Sharks
The Sharks are down a whole list of names because of injuries or because they are on a break. Any side missing Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Oc Nche, Andre Esterhuizen, and Vincent Koch will be hurting. Add in that Makazole Mapimpi is suspended, and that is a big list of game-changing players to be without for a derby against one of the best sides in the league.
Grant Williams, at scrum-half, will have to have a big game. He needs to see the space when Le Roux is out of position and work with his pack and backline to open up the Bulls’ defense.
Best Bets
The Bulls have won four of the last five times these two have met. Given the missing players for the Sharks, I expect the Bulls to go over again here. If Le Roux improves, this one won’t be close. Take the Bulls -10.5 as they win by two converted tries.
