Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann is probably the last person who would ever need reminding about the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ long history of winning at Loftus against the odds.
Forget the famous Craig Jamieson raid on Pretoria in 1990 that netted what was then Natal their first ever major trophy, and that in their centenary year. There have been more of them than that famous Currie Cup final, and there was a domestic game in September 2007 that should figure particularly prominently in Ackermann’s memory bank as he prepares his men for Saturday’s crucial Loftus Vodacom URC derby.
It wasn’t that Ackermann should have much of a memory of playing in that game. For he was on the field for less than 10 minutes. His evening ended when he was red-carded for throwing a punch, leaving the Sharks, in those days coached by Dick Muir, not only as the team that went in as underdogs but also the team that was playing with only 14 men.
It was as against the odds as it could be, and yet the Sharks triumphed, walking away from Loftus with a 26-18 win that has lingered in the memories certainly of the other players and the coaching staff that were on duty for the Sharks that day.
SHARKS SELECTION MAKES BULLS FAVOURITES
On the basis of the Sharks’ win over the Bulls in Durban just before Christmas and their two excellent wins over the DHL Stormers subsequent to that, there should be no space to argue that the Sharks are up against it in Pretoria on Saturday. Or there shouldn’t have been earlier in the week, when it was thought the Sharks would surely go fully loaded with all their Springboks in this game.
They did that against the Stormers and their test match mentality got them through as winners in two games seven days apart, but while the team that lost to the Lions in Johannesburg last week has been improved upon for the Loftus game, it is still far from full strength and the Sharks carry one big question mark in what should be a key area of the game.
That area is the aerial battle. Aphelele Fassi wasn’t great last week, referencing the kicking/territory duel, but he is a Springbok fullback. He won’t be at Loftus because he has sustained a shoulder injury that will keep him out for at least six weeks. Jaco Williams moves from wing to fullback, and has played the position before, but he lacks the experience and physical stature of the man he replaces.
Also out because of the Bok resting protocols are Ethan Hooker, Grant Williams and Siya Kolisi, plus of course the still-suspended Eben Etzebeth. Coach JP Pietersen has corrected his selection errors of last week by returning Jordan Hendrikse and Phepsi Buthelezi to the starting line-up, so the Sharks are definitely stronger, and don’t go to Pretoria on a wing or a prayer.
VISITORS WILL NEED TO RELIVE PASSION OF PREVIOUS LOFTUS TRIUMPHS
But the absence of the top Boks does make a difference to the Sharks’ chances, so they are going to have to relive the passion and emotion of some relatively recent triumphs against the odds in Pretoria, such as when they got through in a 2024 domestic semifinal that went to extra time and during which the Sharks were reduced by cards, and also last year’s game between the sides, when the Sharks prevailed even though at some point they were down to 13.
Making the Bulls favourites is all dependent, of course, on the Bulls going with their strongest team, which was unclear at the time of writing. The unpredictability around selection because of Bok resting, which should happen mainly at this time of year, coupled with the late announcement of teams, makes it hard to feel sure of yourself when predicting who will win the games.
Often you have a gut feel around what you think the teams will look like but then by Friday afternoon that swings because certain players aren’t playing, and the Loftus game is not the only one in Gauteng this weekend where we can’t be completely certain about what to expect in terms of selection.
STORMERS NEED TO GET BACK ON THE HORSE
When it comes to the DHL Stormers, the availability of Springbok players is far less of a concern than it is for the Sharks - and, to a lesser extent, the Bulls. The smart money will be on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu being part of the Bok resting protocols this week, and probably Damian Willemse too, while we know Cobus Reinach won’t be playing as he’s recovering from a medical procedure and will only play again in April.
But Jurie Matthee, while not having the same all-round world-class quality (who has?) as Feinberg-Mngomezulu, is a solid back-up for the Springbok first-choice pivot. And if it rains, which it might, he might even be the right horse for this particular course.
The Stormers need to respond to the two consecutive defeats to the Sharks that saw them drop from top of the log to third in the space of two games and if it is wet and cooler, that might just play into their hands against a Lions team that will be desperate to show they can be consistent by backing up from one week to the next.
They also have the carrot of the SA Shield to play for, something that arguably should be more motivating for them than it is for the other teams. Sharks coach Pietersen probably summed it up when he said that it would be nice to win the Shield but the main focus is getting the win that will get his team back into the top eight.
The overall trophy is the main aim, and should be for the Stormers and the Bulls too, in what is going to be a decisive weekend around log standing, and we aren’t referring to the Shield, which is perhaps being a bit overblown. Can you list the previous four Shield winners in order? Possibly not. What is important is that the Sharks make the top eight so they can play Champions Cup rugby next year, that the Lions qualify for a URC playoff for the first time, and of course the Bulls and Stormers have played in finals before, so know full well what the main prize is.
This weekend’s Vodacom URC fixtures
Cardiff Rugby v Leinster (Cardiff, Friday 9pm)
It's second versus fifth, with just four points separating the teams. This being a bye week in the Six Nations, the fringe internationals will be playing but not the first choices.
Prediction: Leinster to win by less than 7
Edinburgh v Scarlets (Edinburgh, Friday 9.45pm)
Edinburgh don’t provide that many players to the Scotland national team anymore and those who were internationals before but aren’t now will feel they have something to prove against a Scarlets team that has been unpredictable this season.
Prediction: Edinburgh to win by 10
Lions v DHL Stormers (Johannesburg, Saturday 2.30pm)
The Stormers have lost just once in Johannesburg before, that being last year, and in that game they made a ridiculous amount of errors but still came back to challenge at the death. If they can eliminate the mistakes they made against the Sharks and make the necessary adjustments to their game, and they’ve had time to work on it, they should just edge it.
Prediction: Stormers to win by 7
Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saturday 5pm)
The Sharks weren’t really at the races until the last 20 minutes at Ellis Park last week and will need to be a lot better. The expectation was that all the Boks would play, but that hasn’t happened, so the Bulls start as favourites.
Prediction: Bulls to win by 8
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors (Galway, Saturday 5pm)
The Warriors have been on an extended winning run but you’d fancy that in this game they will be under-strength as they had 10 players starting for Scotland against Wales last week and also for the game before that against England. It gives Connacht, who don’t have much Irish representation, a chance, particularly on their home ground. I sense an upset here.
Prediction: Connacht to scrape a win by the smallest of margins.
Munster v Zebre (Limerick, Saturday 7.30pm)
Munster aren’t as impacted by international calls as Leinster are, so they have some continuity and should get the better of the current bottom team.
Prediction: Munster to win by 15
Dragons v Benetton (Newport, Saturday 7.30pm)
Italy have been impressing everyone in the Six Nations but in contrast to that, the team that provides most of their players, Benetton, have been underachieving in the URC. This is an important game for Benetton if they are to retain top-eight pretensions.
Prediction: Benetton to scrape it by less than 7
Ospreys v Ulster (Swansea, Saturday 9.45pm)
The Stormers will be hoping for an Ospreys win to halt Ulster's momentum and although Ulster have been one of the form teams this season, it may just happen. Ulster have provided some of the players who breathed new life into Ireland last week, but the likes of Stuart McCloskey and Rob Baloucoune are unlikely to be playing.
Prediction: Ulster to scrape it.
Vodacom URC log positions - 1. Glasgow 44 after 11; 2. Leinster 40 after 11; 3. DHL Stormers 36 after 10; 4. Ulster 36 after 10; 5. Cardiff 36 after 11; 6. Munster 35 after 11; 7. Lions 29 after 11; 8. Vodacom Bulls 25 after 10; 9. Ospreys 25 after 11; 10. Hollywoodbets Sharks 24 after 11; 11. Benetton 21 after 11; 12. Connacht 21 after 10; 13. Edinburgh 18 after 10; 14. Dragons 18 after 11; 15. Scarlets 15 after 10; 16. Zebre 12 after 11; 17.