America’s Got Talent seems a strange source of inspiration for Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann. But it’s one of the many avenues he uses for inspiration in his rugby career.
After back-to-back home victories at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in the opening fortnight of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, the Hollywoodbets Sharks face off against the DHL Stormers at Cape Town Stadium in their first away game of the tournament.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship log leaders, the Hollywoodbets Sharks, and third-placed 10bet Lions, will have their sights set on continuing their unbeaten start in the competition this weekend and remain in the top four on the standings when they hit the road to face the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls in a thrilling round of South African derbies.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks and 10bet Lions were victorious in their second-round home clashes in the 2026/27 Vodacom United Rugby Championship, but unfortunately the travelling DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls both came up short in the Northern Hemisphere.
Andre Esterhuizen returns from international duty to lead a strong Hollywoodbets Sharks side into their second-round Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with reigning champions Leinster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday.
The four South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship sides will have their sights set on building on their strong start to the competition last weekend in which they registered a clean sweep of victories with another challenging round awaiting them this weekend.
The four South African franchises got their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaigns off to winning start, with the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers recording bonus–point wins, while the 10bet Lions edged the defending champions.
South African eyes will be on Galway, Johannesburg, Durban, and Parma this weekend as the DHL Stormers, 10bet Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and Vodacom Bulls get the new Vodacom United Rugby Championship season underway.
Springbok legend Breyton Paulse has tipped the 10bet Lions as the South African team to watch in this year’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
DHL Stormers coach John Dobson has in his own mind made the connection as to what constitutes success for them in this season’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship.