The Lions succeeded in their mission to power their way into the Vodacom United Rugby Championship top eight on Saturday as they overcame two yellow cards to defeat the Hollywoodbets Sharks 34-22 in Johannesburg for an invaluable bonus-point win in their rescheduled round eight clash.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship action resumes this weekend as the Hollywoodbets Sharks travel to Johannesburg for their return-leg, second-round clash against the Lions on Saturday afternoon.
The battle lines will be clearly drawn on Saturday when the Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks go head-to-head in their postponed round eight Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash in Johannesburg, where a place in the top eight will be up for grabs.
The Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks showed true grit in a thrilling round of Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies to walk away with crucial victories against the Lions and DHL Stormers, which not only proved that they could be finding their form at the right time, but it also gave them a handy nudge on the standings.
The return-leg Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby match between the Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers takes place at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday with the Durban side looking to pull off a stunning double over the previously unbeaten Cape side.
For two men – Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen and his Vodacom Bulls counterpart Johan Ackermann – Saturday’s Jukskei Derby represents a deep bond shared between the two in the game of rugby, and then a far deeper connection in the realms of friendship and faith.
South Africa’s die-hard rugby fans will be glued to their seats on Saturday as the four domestic franchises go head-to-head in gripping local derbies in round 11 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, which could have a big impact on the teams’ log standings.
Johan Ackermann has experienced every side of the Jukskei Derby — as a player and coach for both the Vodacom Bulls and the Lions. Now returning to Ellis Park for the first time since leaving the Lions, he’s aiming to add a new chapter: a derby win with the Vodacom Bulls.
The DHL Stormers’ unbeaten run and flawless home track record in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship came to a grinding halt, as the Hollywoodbets Sharks stunned them with a fine display of rugby in Cape Town.
Could the Free State Cheetahs become a fifth South African franchise to play in the United Rugby Championship, taking advantage of the chaos in Welsh rugby? (more…)