Breaking new ground for South African rugby, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship sees the South African sides join the festive derby weekends that have proved to be so popular in Pro14.
While local teams were spared the derbies over the festive period, this year is different and the Vodacom Bulls will travel to Cape Town to face the DHL Stormers while the Cell C Sharks host the Emirates Lions in Friday action.
So here it is, our comprehensive guide to a weekend’s festive derbies in the URC:
Friday 23 December
CELL C SHARKS v EMIRATES LIONS
At Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban, 5pm
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU, 3rd competition game)
Assistant: Stephan Geldenhuys, Paul Mente (both SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
The Sharks have rested a number of Springboks but still have a lot of firepower as they face a tough Lions side, riding the crest of two wins in Europe and keen to overturn their poor record of not winning against another SA side this year. This in itself will be motivation for the Johannesburg side to try and grab a famous scalp and extend their unbeaten run to five games.
Overall URC head-to-head record: Played 4, Sharks won 4.
DID YOU KNOW?
Cell C Sharks two game losing run in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship ended with their 25-10 victory at home to Ospreys in Round 9.
Sharks only defeat in their last seven United Rugby Championship fixtures at HollywoodBets Kings Park was 0-35 to Cardiff Rugby on 27 November.
Sharks have lost their last two URC matches against fellow South African franchises, both to the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria.
Emirates Lions have won their last two Vodacom United Rugby Championship games, both in Johannesburg, against Dragons and Scarlets.
Lions have won their last four away games in the Championship since their 10-37 reversal to today’s opponents, Cell C Sharks, in Durban in April.
Lions have only ever won two URC encounters against fellow South African teams, beating Bulls in Johannesburg in the Rainbow Cup in May 2021 and the Stormers in Cape Town in December 2021.
KEY STATISTICS
CELL C SHARKS
Hooker Dan Jooste is yet to miss his target with his lineout throwing, having thrown 18 successful throws and missing none
The Cell C Sharks are ranked second in the league for their rate of gainline success(58.59 per cent). They are 0.31 per cent away from the Vodacom Bulls who sit in poll position
The Cell C Sharks have scored more tries from possessions which begin with scrums than any other team in the league (five)
EMIRATES LIONS
Working together to control the game, fly-half Jordan Hendrikse (546) and fullback Quan Horn (505) were the two players who made the most kicking metres in Round 9
For a player who has made more than 50 carries so far this season, centre Marius Louw has the highest rate of gainline success in the league: he has crossed the gainline with 42 of his 57 carries (74 per cent). However, he has also dropped the ball unforced more than any other player (ten)
Taking the risk of throwing over the line, PJ Botha and Jaco Visagie have both thrown more lineout throws that have travelled more than 15 metres than any other player in the league (eight and four)
DHL STORMERS v VODACOM BULLS
At DHL Stadium, Cape Town, 7.15pm
Referee: AJ Jacobs (SARU, 14th competition game)
Assistant: Cwengile Jadezweni, Griffin Colby (both SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Overall URC head-to-head record: Played 5, Stormers won 3, Bulls won 2.
DID YOU KNOW?
Defending Champions DHL Stormers have lost just once in defence of their crown this campaign: 24-30 to Cardiff Rugby at the Arms Park on 22 October.
Stormers have won their last fifteen home games in the United Rugby Championship since Emirates Lions beat them 37-19 at DHL Stadium on 4 December 2021.
Stormers have won their last five fixtures against fellow South African franchises since drawing 22-all with Cell C Sharks in Durban in January.
Vodacom Bulls have won their last four Vodacom United Rugby Championship matches since their 17- 31 defeat to Munster in Limerick in Round 5.
The Bulls have won two away games in the United Rugby Championship this season, beating the Lions in Johannesburg on the opening weekend and Benetton in Treviso in Round 6.
Bulls only defeat in their last four URC matches against South African opponents was in last season’s final to today’s opponents the Stormers.
Stormers have won their last three encounters with the Bulls in the URC since Bulls 31-27 win in Pretoria in the Rainbow Cup in June 2021.
KEY STATISTICS
DHL STORMERS
Flanker Nama Xaba has extracted more penalties by jackalling at the ruck than any other player (five)
The DHL Stormers’ success rate off the tee is the highest in the league (88 per cent) – they have scored 26 conversions and 16 penalty goals
The DHL Stormers average the fewest contact metres per 80 minutes in the Vodacom URC (48.6)
VODACOM BULLS
Making a total of 525, Vodacom Bulls wing David Kriel has gained more metres with ball in hand than any other player in the Vodacom URC
Vodacom Bulls stand-off Chris Smith has made the most metres in the league from penalty kicks, pushing his side a total of 1 401 metres down field. However, he has also thrown a league-high four forward passes
Veteran hooker Bismarck du Plessis has won as many turnovers, excluding when a penalty has been awarded, at the ruck as any other player (four = Marcus Rea).