Overview
- The Stormers host the Bulls at a sold-out DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday with an 18:00 kickoff after confirming a full-strength backline.
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu returns from a groin strain to start at flyhalf outside Cobus Reinach, with Damian Willemse named at inside centre for his 100th Stormers start.
- Bulls captain Ruan Nortje returns to the XV, Canan Moodie starts at outside centre, Paul de Wet is at scrumhalf, and an all-Springbok front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw is retained with Handré Pollard at flyhalf and Willie le Roux at fullback.
- The Stormers enter the derby unbeaten in this URC season, adding weight to a fixture widely regarded for its intensity and home-ground influence in Cape Town.
- In Durban, the Sharks vs Lions derby kicks off at 15:30, with the Lions confirming Junior Springbok scrumhalf Haashim Pead on the bench and ruling out Darrien Landsberg, Reinhard Nothnagel and SJ Kotze through injury and concussion protocols.