After the flurry of major European cup competition, local rugby’s focus switches to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, which this week takes on a fresh dimension with a rare double-header at Emirates Airline Park.
Both the Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions will feature in back-to-back clashes in the final fortnight of the regular season, heralding a big day for local rugby, even by South Africa’s usual standards. The Bulls play Zebre Parme and the Lions host Irish giants Leinster.
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SuperSport is gearing up for the challenge, too, with the skilled Swys de Bruin, Odwa Ndungane and Schalk Burger occupying the seats as studio analysts for both fixtures (1pm and 4pm).
The Lions, meanwhile, are laying on a vibrant fan experience that includes entertainment, a market and a post-match signing session with both SA sides.
Commentary duties will be divided among Owen Nkumane and Warren Brosnihan (English), Gerrie Scheepers and Jonathan Mokoena (Afrikaans) and Lonwabo Mtimka and Sindile Mayende (Xhosa).
The weekend’s other double-header will take place in Cape Town where Western Province play the Toyota Cheetahs in a Currie Cup fixture (3pm), followed by a URC match between the champion Stormers and Munster (6.15pm).
The Stormers will be looking for a much-improved performance after last weekend, particularly with the playoffs looming. Happily, Cape Town Stadium has been a fortress in recent years - they are unbeaten there in over a year - and home support has been significant. The Stormers are the only South African team sure of a place in the Finals Series of the competition and qualification for next season’s Champions Cup. The South African Shield champions for a second year, they are comfortably the best performing local team in the competition.
The assured trio of TV pundits in De Bruin, Odwa Ndungane and Burger will provide pre- and post-match analysis.
Jean de Villiers and Matthew Pearce will anchor the English commentary with Gary Boshoff and Kobus Wiese on Afrikaans duty and Luthabo Kamana and Makhaya Jack on board for Xhosa viewers. In an additional bonus, former Irish international Alan Quinlan will also be on camera for SuperSport.
Ahead of the Johannesburg showdowns, the Sharks will entertain high-running Benetton (Friday, 6.30pm); a key match as places in the final eight will be up for grabs.
Akona Ndungane and Hanyani Shimange will be in studio, with World Cup winners Butch James and Joel Stransky (English), Hennie Koortzen and Toks van der Linde (Afrikaans) and Kaya Malotana and Masomelele Jucwa (Xhosa) on the microphone for live action.
TV: All live on SS Grandstand and SS Rugby.