The United Rugby Championship gets a major South African boost this weekend as the DHL Stormers welcome the Hollywoodbets Sharks to DHL Stadium on Saturday, with a host of Springboks set to return to club rugby.
The coastal rivals will meet at 16:00 in what promises to be one of the biggest South African fixtures of the early URC season. The Sharks have made an impressive start, winning both of their opening matches and currently sitting at the top of the URC standings, while the Stormers have one win and one defeat from their opening two games.
The return of the Springboks adds another layer to an already fierce rivalry. The Stormers are expected to bring back several of their international stars, including Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, Wilco Louw, Deon Fourie and Paul de Villiers. Siya Kolisi is also back with the Stormers after returning to the Cape side from the Sharks. Cheslin Kolbe, however, remains unavailable because of his jaw injury.
The Sharks will also have plenty of Springbok quality on the field, with André Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe and Thomas du Toit already having featured for the Durban side. Eben Etzebeth will be another player to watch after producing an impressive performance against Leinster last weekend.
That makes this more than just another URC fixture. With so many Springboks facing each other, Stormers defence coach Norman Laker has even compared the derby to a potential Springbok trial. Players will be looking to make an impression, while the coaching staff will be watching how their international stars perform in a high-pressure domestic environment.
The Stormers will be desperate to respond after their 17–13 defeat to Edinburgh. Their biggest concern from that match was their lineout, which repeatedly let them down and prevented them from making the most of their opportunities. Having their experienced internationals back could provide the composure and physicality they need to correct those problems.
The Sharks, meanwhile, arrive with confidence. JP Pietersen’s side have already beaten the Stormers twice in the URC last season and will be chasing a third consecutive victory over their coastal rivals. They also showed their attacking strength by beating Leinster in Durban last weekend.
The big battle could come in the midfield and at the breakdown. Esterhuizen brings enormous physicality for the Sharks, while the Stormers could have Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding creativity and attacking options. Up front, the battle involving Etzebeth and the Stormers pack could also have a major influence on the result.
The Stormers will have home advantage and the return of their Springboks could give them a significant lift, but the Sharks’ unbeaten start and confidence from their recent results cannot be ignored.
This has all the ingredients of a tight South African derby, and the prediction is for the Stormers to edge the Sharks 27–24 in a match that could go down to the final minutes.
One thing is almost guaranteed: with the Springboks back and two fierce rivals going head-to-head, South African rugby fans are in for a serious URC battle.