Overview
- Round 9 brings two South African derbies on Saturday, with the Stormers hosting the Bulls in Cape Town and the Sharks facing the Lions in Durban.
- The Cape side remain unbeaten at 7–0 on 32 points with a game in hand after Leinster’s win over Munster preserved their lead during the Christmas fixtures.
- The Bulls are on a five-match losing run in all competitions and sit 10th in the URC after firing assistants Andries Bekker and Chris Rossouw and adding Neil de Bruin to lead the backs.
- SARU confirmed a limited, short-term role for Springbok staff including Felix Jones, Jerry Flannery, Duane Vermeulen and Andy Edwards to assist the Bulls.
- The Stormers are monitoring injuries to Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with decisions due by the end of Monday, and they face further backline disruptions with Ruhan Nel sidelined and hand fractures to Jonathan Roche and Wandisile Simelane.