Is Loftus Versfeld heading for a sell-out for this weekend’s epic Vodacom United Rugby Championship semifinal between the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks? It certainly seems so.
By early on Wednesday morning the Bulls released that only 10 124 tickets were left for sale to the public, and the expectation is that it will be full, or at least very close to full to the 52 000 capacity when the game kicks off at 6pm on Saturday night.
The match-up between the second and third best sides in the competition after the league phase is an intriguing one, as Jake White’s Bulls look to get to their third semifinal in four years while John Plumtree’s team of Galacticos look to perform to their potential and massive squad full of World Cup winning Springboks.
The Sharks have beaten the Bulls twice already this season - three times if you count the extra time win in the Currie Cup semifinal - and while the Bulls have achieved some incredible firsts - such as wins in Connacht, Limerick and Glasgow this season, they still have to get past their arch rivals if they are to have a chance of going one better than last season.
The loss in the final against Glasgow at Loftus is one that the Bulls still talk about, remembering the hurt and disappointment and they have made it their mission to try and get over that hurdle this season, but the Sharks loom very large in front of them this weekend.
The Durban side, who have so many stars in their side that often the conversation is why they haven’t clicked just yet, have ground their way to the semifinal on the back of gritty wins that showed the character in the side.
Their penalty kick off win in Durban on Saturday night is still being talked about and whatever their critics say about them, few will argue that they have the firepower to win at Loftus, as they did earlier this season without several of their Boks.
That, and the scrum battle that pits the World Cup winning front row against the best scrum in the competition makes the game epic viewing that shouldn’t be missed.
While in the past the full-house signs have gone up, some tickets remained unsold as sponsors, clubs and stakeholders didn’t take up their full complement, but the hope is that this weekend that won’t be the case and it will be a full house at a stadium that can be intimidating for overseas sides.
The Sharks won’t be overawed by the occasion, and are sure to make it a tense, arm-wrestle battle that will see some of South Africa’s best players look to book their places in the final.
Tickets start at R100 and can be bought online on the Ticketpro website.