In two local derbies on Saturday (10/10), the Bulls and the Stormers were victorious over the Lions and the Sharks in Pretoria and Cape Town respectively. In the first match of the day, the Jukskei derby between the Bulls and the Lions promised a fierce battle. 

However, the Bulls trampled the Lions 57-15 at a sweltering Loftus Versfeld. Johan Ackermann’s charges were bolstered by the inclusion of ten Springboks, and it showed. The Bulls scored nine tries – two by Springbok No 8 Cameron Hanekom – to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Munster.

Canan Moodie scoring for the Bulls. Photo: Facebook/Vodacom Bulls

After the match, Ackermann applauded his team for showing character and grit. “I am just proud of the guys. We knew we had to be at our best to beat a side that is in form. The focus was to make sure we started well, that our set piece was sorted out and everything.” 

The action shifts to the Champions Cup next weekend, when the Bulls will host Stade Francais at Loftus Versfeld while the Lions travel to Stade Marcel-Deflandre to face La Rochelle.

BULLS – Tries: Harold Vorster, Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom (2), Jeandré Rudolph, Canan Moodie, JF van Heerden, Cheswill Jooste, Sebastian de Klerk. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (3), Handré Pollard (4).
LIONS – Tries: Siba Qoma, Morné Brandon. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalty: Smith.

Stormers

In the coastal derby between the Stormers and Sharks in Cape Town, the hosts posted a dominant 39-22 win over the visitors. Loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani scored a brace of tries, but was just tipped for the Player of the Match award by Springbok fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who put on a spectacular performance.

After the match, Feinberg-Mngomezulu said home-ground advantage and the support of the crowd added to their match-winning performance. “We had 45,000 fans here. So it’s a special home ground that we have got here, and I am very happy that we got the result,” he said.

“I just play for my team. There is endless motivation (to do that). People outside of our circles, the Springboks and Stormers, will always have an opinion and we enjoy that. But it’s just about staying low for me.”

Stormers fly-half and Player of the Match, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Photo: Facebook 

The Sharks face Lyon in France next week in the opening round of the EPCR Challenge Cup, while the Stormers host English club the Bristol Bears in the Investec Champions Cup.

STORMERS – Tries: Seabelo Senatla, Hacjivah Dayimani (2), André-Hugo Venter, Leolin Zas, JJ Kotzé. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
SHARKS – Tries: Manu Tshituka, Matt Romao, Phepsi Buthelezi. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (2). Penalty: Lombard.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg