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URC Round 2 Preview

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2 years ago

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URC Round 2 Preview

The United Rugby Championship enters its second round this weekend, with the South African teams joining the fray after their Currie Cup commitments. The opening weekend saw some thrilling encounters, with six games decided by a total of just 12 points. Round 2 promises more exciting action across Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, and South Africa.

Leinster Rugby v Dragons RFC, 7.35pm IRE & UK, Friday

Leinster begin a new chapter as they temporarily relocate to the Aviva Stadium while the RDS undergoes redevelopment. The move to Ireland’s national stadium could prove advantageous; Leinster boasts an impressive record there, having lost only twice in 30 URC games at the venue.

This fixture will be particularly special for veteran prop Cian Healy, who is set to make his 281st appearance for Leinster, surpassing Devin Toner to become the province’s most-capped player. It’s a testament to Healy’s longevity and importance to the team.

The Dragons arrive in Dublin with a spring in their step after their dramatic 23-21 Welsh derby victory over the Ospreys. However, history is not on their side. Leinster have won their last 13 meetings with the Dragons, a streak dating back to January 2016. Moreover, the Irish province has been dominant against Welsh opposition recently, winning their last nine such encounters.

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan remains upbeat, viewing the match as a golden opportunity for his squad. “We’re excited for the challenge we face in our first away game of the league season. Leinster bring everything.”

Leinster Rugby: Jamie Osborne, Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Charlie Tector, Jimmy O’Brien, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan (CAPT)
Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Rabah Slimani, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Aitzol King

Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Steff Hughes, Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans, Dane Blacker; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (CAPT), George Nott, Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie, Shane Lewis-Hughes
Replacement: Oli Burrows, Rhodri Jones, Luke Yendle, Matthew Screech, George Young, Rhodri Williams, Joe Westwood, Ewan Rosser

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Live on: TG4, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton Rugby, 7.35pm IRE & UK, Friday

Defending champions Glasgow Warriors are looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking last-gasp defeat to Ulster in the opening round. Head coach Franco Smith has responded by making six changes to his starting XV, including the introduction of Adam Hastings at fly-half for his first start since returning from Gloucester.

The Warriors will be buoyed by the heroics of flanker Rory Darge, who made an astounding 39 tackles against Ulster – the second-highest tally in the club’s history. This defensive prowess will be crucial against a Benetton side that showed flashes of attacking brilliance in their draw with Scarlets.

Benetton coach Marco Bortolami was critical of his team’s “timid” second-half display last week and will be demanding a more consistent 80-minute performance. The Italian side has the potential to cause an upset, but they’ll need to be at their very best to overcome the wounded champions on their home turf.

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, Jamie Dobie; Nathan McBeth, Gregor Hiddleston, Zander Fagerson, Max Williamson, Richie Gray, Euan Ferrie, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Alex Samuel, Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown, George Horne, Duncan Weir.

Benetton Rugby: Matt Gallagher, Louis Lynagh, Malakai Fekitoa, Marco Zanon, Onisi Ratave, Jacob Umaga, Andy Uren, Mirco Spagnolo, Siua Maile, Simone Ferrari, Scott Scrafton, Eli Snyman (CAPT), Alessandro Izekor, Manuel Zuliani, Sebastian Negri
Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Aminu Destiny, Riccardo Genovese, Riccardo Favretto, Toa Halafihi, Alessandro Garbisi, Leonardo Marin, Paolo Odogwu

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Emirates Lions v Ulster Rugby, 11.55am IRE & UK, Saturday

The Emirates Lions make their URC season debut, but they do so carrying the weight of a gut-wrenching Currie Cup final defeat. The question looms: how will they respond to such heartbreak? The scheduling could work in their favour, with the early kick-off in Johannesburg likely to test Ulster’s adaptation to the altitude and heat.

Ulster, however, enter this fixture on a high after their dramatic 85th-minute try secured victory against Glasgow. Coach Richie Murphy is under no illusions about the challenge ahead, stating, “We are going to have to learn quickly, because that’s not going to be good enough on most nights.”

Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Rabz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Tapiwa Mafura, Kade Wolhuter, Sanele Nohamba, Morgan Naude, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Reinard Nothnagel, Darrien Landsberg, Jarod Cairns, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn (CAPT)
Replacements: Franco Marais, Juan Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Ruben Schoeman, Siba Qoma, Renzo du Plessis, Nico Steyn, Henco van Wyk

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy, Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, John Cooney, Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (CAPT), Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney
Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, Mike Lowry, David McCann

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Vodacom Bulls v Edinburgh Rugby, 2pm IRE & UK, Saturday

The Bulls, perennial contenders in recent URC seasons, kick off their campaign with high hopes. Coach Jake White has set ambitious targets: “I’m looking forward to seeing how we can kick on and learn from the lessons of the last three years. These are very exciting times for the Bulls.”

Coming off a narrow 33-31 defeat to Leinster, Edinburgh will be eager to show that their strong performance was no fluke. Coach Sean Everitt has identified the kicking game as an area for improvement, which could be crucial in Pretoria’s challenging conditions.

The Bulls’ home advantage at Loftus Versfeld, combined with the effects of altitude, makes them favourites. However, Edinburgh’s ability to push Leinster to the brink suggests they shouldn’t be underestimated.

Vodacom Bulls: David Kriel, Canan Moodie, Stedman Gans, Barend Smit, Sebastian de Klerk, Jaco van der Walt, Embrose Papier, Alulutho Tshakweni, Armand van der Merwe (CAPT), Wilco Louw, Ruan Vermaak, Cobus Wiese, Nama Xaba, Jannes Kirsten, Cameron Hanekom
Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Kloppers, JF van Heerden, Marcel Coetzee, Keegan Johannes, Boeta Chamberlain, Aphiwe Dyantyi

Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, Matt Scott, Duhan van der Merwe, Ross Thompson, Ali Price, Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, Paul Hill, Marshall Sykes, Grant Gilchrist (CAPT), Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Boan Venter, D’arcy Rae, Jamie Hodgson, Tom Dodd, Ben Vellacott, Ben Healy, Ross McCann

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Zebre Parma v Munster Rugby, 3pm IRE & UK, Saturday

Munster travel to northern Italy riding the wave of their thrilling 35-33 victory over Connacht. The ten-try spectacle showcased Munster’s attacking prowess, but also highlighted defensive vulnerabilities that coach Graham Rowntree will be keen to address.

Zebre, despite showing fight in their 22-17 loss to Cardiff, face a daunting task. The Italian side is on a 14-game losing streak in the URC and hasn’t beaten an Irish province in the championship since February 2018. Furthermore, Munster have a perfect record against Zebre, winning all 20 of their previous encounters.

However, complacency could be Munster’s biggest enemy. Zebre have shown they can be competitive, and playing in front of their home crowd could inspire them to produce an upset.

Zebre Parma: Geronimo Prisciantelli, Jacopo Trulla, Giulio Bertaccini, Luca Morisi,Simone Gesi, Giovanni Montemauri, Alessandro Fusco, Danilo Fischetti (CAPT), Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Matteo Nocera, Matteo Canali, Leonard Krumov, Davide Ruggeri, Samuele Locatelli, Giovanni Licata
Replacements: Giampietro Ribaldi, Luca Rizzoli, Juan Pitinari, Andrea Zambonin, Giacomo Ferrari, Patricio Baronio, Scott Gregory, Giacomo Da Re

Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Shane Daly, Tom Farrell, Thaakir Abrahams; Tony Butler, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron (CAPT), Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Jack Daly, Jack O’Donoghue, Conor Murray, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Venue: Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma
Live on: Sky Italia, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby, 5.15pm IRE & UK, Saturday

This all-Welsh clash is given added significance by Gareth Davies’ milestone appearance. The scrum-half is set to become only the third player to make 250 appearances for the Scarlets in the regional era. Davies, who captained the side in their draw with Benetton, reflects on his journey: “Seventeen seasons sounds like quite a lot, but the years have just flown, which just shows how much I have enjoyed myself.”

Cardiff, narrow 22-17 winners over Zebre in Round 1, will be wary of a Scarlets side that got the better of them twice last season. Coach Matt Sherratt acknowledges the unpredictable nature of Welsh derbies, stating, “I know it’s a bit clichéd, but form goes out of the window with any of the Welsh derbies.”

With both teams showing promise but also vulnerabilities in their opening fixtures, this derby could be one of the round’s most closely contested matches.

Scarlets: Ioan Lloyd, Tom Rogers, Macs Page, Johnny Williams, Blair Murray; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Max Douglas, Jarrod Taylor, Josh Macleod (CAPT), Taine Plumtree
Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Alec Hepburn, Sam Wainwright, Jac Price, Dan Davis, Efan Jones, Eddie James, Ellis Mee

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Mason Grady, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Iwan Stephens, Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies, Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (CAPT), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Ed Byrne, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Mackenzie Martin, Ellis Bevan, Tinus de Beer, Harri Millard

Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU)

Venue: Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys v DHL Stormers, 7.35pm IRE & UK, Saturday

Due to a fixture clash with Swansea City, this match has been moved to Bridgend’s Brewery Field. The change of venue adds another variable to what promises to be a fascinating encounter.

Ospreys coach Toby Booth is drawing confidence from his team’s victory over the Stormers in Cape Town last season. “To win over there gives you confidence and it builds self belief,” Booth said, while also praising the atmosphere at Brewery Field.

For the Stormers, this match kicks off a challenging three-week European tour. Director of Rugby John Dobson emphasises the importance of starting strong: “We know how important it is in this competition to perform on the road, so we will give these three matches all we have.”

The Stormers’ ability to adapt quickly to northern hemisphere conditions could be the key factor in this match. The Ospreys will hope to capitalise on any early-season rustiness from their South African opponents.

Ospreys: Jack Walsh, Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Ryan Conbeer, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams (100), Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (CAPT), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris
Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Phil Cokanasiga, Max Nagy

DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis (CAPT), Leolin Zas, Jurie Matthee, Paul de Wet, Sti Sithole, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, JD Schickerling, Ruben van Heerden, Marcel Theunissen, David Ewers, Keke Morabe
Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Leon Lyons, Brok Harris, Adre Smith, Ben-Jason Dixon, Stefan Ungerer, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Angelo Davids

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Venue: Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Connacht Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks, 7.35pm IRE & UK, Saturday

The final match of the round sees Connacht host the Sharks in what could be a pivotal early-season clash for both teams. Despite losing 35-33 to Munster, Connacht showed immense promise in their attacking play. Coach Pete Wilkins described it as a “really promising performance” but acknowledged the “huge disappointment” of not securing the win.

The Sharks arrive in Galway with momentum from their Currie Cup triumph, secured in dramatic fashion with a last-minute penalty. Coach John Plumtree praised his team’s “never-give-up attitude” – a quality that could serve them well as they look to improve on last season’s disappointing 14th-place finish in the URC.

Connacht have won their last two meetings with the Sharks, including a victory in Durban last season. However, the Irish province is currently on a four-game losing streak in the URC, their longest since 2013.

Connacht: Santiago Cordero, Mack Hansen, Piers O’Conor, Cathal Forde, Shane Jennings, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Niall Murray, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast (CAPT).
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Caolin Blade, David Hawkshaw, Paul Boyle.

Hollywoodbets Sharks: Jordan Hendrikse, Eduan Keyter, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Siya Masuku, Bradley Davids, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Dylan Richardson, Ruan Dreyer, Jason Jenkins, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka (CAPT), Emmanuel Tshituka
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Trevor Nyakane, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Reniel Hugo, Tinotenda Mavesere, Tian Meyer, Gurswin Wehr / Lionel Cronje

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)

Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

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United Rugby Championship

Leinster loving life as champions return to new-look home

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4 weeks ago

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9th October 2026

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Leinster loving life as champions return to new-look home
Fintan Gunne scoring Leinster Rugby's second try in pre-season fixture against Zebre Parma in the Laya Arena // Photo Credit: Inpho Photography

It will be the dawn of a new era for Leinster Rugby this weekend as they play their first BKT URC game at the redeveloped Laya Arena.

The league champions will welcome second-placed Cardiff Rugby to their new-look home at the Royal Dublin Society site on Saturday evening, with a bumper crowd expected for the landmark fixture.

As a result of the redevelopment, which is the product of more than 220,000 working hours, the capacity is now up to 20,600, with the new Anglesea Stand holding 6,775.

One other nice stat is that the total distance of seating if laid end to end would stretch 3.39km. For those with local knowledge, that takes you as far as the Ha’penny Bridge!

So, after a season at the Aviva Stadium, Leinster are back at the RDS, having signed a 25-year agreement to use the Laya Arena for their home games.

Head coach Leo Cullen views it as a very welcome move as he embarks on his final season at the helm.

“You want a proper club ground, with a proper club feel, that’s the big thing,” he said.

“When you go to an international stadium, it’s very hard to generate a club feel because you are on the bus, you are under the tunnel, it’s an international ground.

“Here at the Laya, there’s proper engagement with the fans with everyone on top of each other. That’s what club rugby should be like.

“Kids who come into the ground can actually see their heroes whereas it’s always a bit more distant at the bigger stadiums like the Aviva.

“Don’t get me wrong, we are very lucky to play there, but it’s not a club ground. Club is the big thing for me.”

On the redevelopment project, he said: “A huge amount of work has gone into upgrading the venue and we can’t wait to build a powerful bond with our team and supporters as we progress through the season.”

Adding his thoughts, assistant coach Emmett Farrell said: “The old RDS had some great nights and we are looking forward to having some really big nights in the Laya Arena.”

Assessing the challenge presented by Cardiff, Farrell said: “It will be a big test. They are really good.

“They are definitely the strongest Welsh team at the moment. They are growing the depth of their squad with quality guys. So they are definitely a threat.

“They got the better of us twice last year. They beat us in pre-season at Tallaght and then they beat us at the Arms Park later in the year. So they will be very confident.

“They have had a really strong start to the season.

“They got an away win in a Welsh derby, which is a big confidence boost, and they had a nice comfortable win against Zebre.

“They look very strong. Their pack has been brilliant, their maul has been going well.

“They’ve got really good half-backs. Their tactical kicking is very strong, so we are going to have to be very secure in the back.

“Their aerial game is very strong. They did a bit of a job on us in Cardiff when they won a lot of the aerial contests. So we have to make sure we reverse that trend.”

He concluded: “They will be coming here full of confidence which is a danger to us. They are going to have a good crack. They will have good belief that they can do it.

“There will be no holds barred on the weekend.”

Title holders Leinster will be looking for their first win of the BKT URC season having lost their opening two games out in South Africa – against the 10Bet Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks – while picking up three losing bonus points as valuable consolation.

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South African starlet Siba Mahashe enjoys remarkable rise

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4 weeks ago

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9th October 2026

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South African starlet Siba Mahashe enjoys remarkable rise
10bet Lions Siba Mahashe // Photo Credit: Inpho Photography

It was only eight months ago that Siba Mahashe made his BKT URC debut.

But the 22-year-old loose forward is already being seen as one of the brightest young talents in South African rugby.

That was illustrated by his inclusion in a Springboks alignment camp in May, while he went on to make his debut for South Africa A against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha the following month.

Then, in August, he further enhanced his rising reputation with a Player of the Match display in the 10Bet Lions’ thrilling clash with the touring All Blacks.

Now he has begun the new season by helping the Johannesburg-based side win their opening two BKT URC fixtures to lie third in the league table.

Next up comes a big derby clash with the Vodacom Bulls at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld this Saturday.

It’s been a remarkably rapid rise for Masashe and he is clearly a young man with a big future in the game.

However, rugby really found him by chance.

“I started playing in primary school when I was eight,” he explains.

“I actually didn’t plan on playing rugby. I used to play football and cricket.

“B ut my friends played rugby and they were short of a player.

“So my dad had to go quickly to buy me kit to play in.

“I always refer to that as the year that rugby chose me.”

Born and raised in the Eastern Cape, Mahashe earned a scholarship to Hudson Park High School in KuGompo City and went on to catch the eye while playing for Border at the famous Craven Week in 2022.

That earned him selection for South Africa Schools and he was to captain the team on a couple of occasions, later going on to win international honours with the Baby Boks at the 2024 U20s World Championship.

Having relocated to Johannesburg, he made his debut for the Lions in a Challenge Cup clash with Lyon in January of this year and then took his BKT URC bow versus the Hollywoodbets Sharks the following month, marking the occasion with a try.

His obvious dynamic talent was soon recognised as he was fast tracked into a 40-strong Springboks alignment camp.

“It was a dream come true for me,” says the flanker.

“Most rugby players dream of playing for the Springboks, so to know I was considered part of that environment made me very happy.

“It ignited a belief in me that the work I had been putting in and the good performances I had been producing had been recognised.

“It was a huge motivation for me to continue doing better and improve in each match I play.”

As for his memorable outing against New Zealand, he says: “Everyone grows up watching the Springboks against the All Blacks, so watching the Haka and actually experiencing it was an unreal moment for me.”

Mahashe is clearly a very dedicated young man as he reveals when outlining his approach to his job.

“For me, it’s having friends that are not athletes and being able to say no to them whenever they want to go out during the week,” he said.

“It’s knowing your why and what makes you perform on the weekend.

“My younger self would be very proud that I kept going. Even on the days that it was tough, I kept going and kept pushing.”

He continued: “My game really revolves around bringing energy to the team. I’m always going to give my all on the field, whichever game it is, no matter the scoreboard, if we’re losing or winning.

“I want people to remember me as a guy that played rugby to have fun and to enjoy it.

“My family calls me every day, to make sure I am good and them doing that helps me remind myself why I’m doing this.”

As for what makes the Lions tick as a side, he says: “I think it’s the love we have for each other and the willingness to work for each other all the time.

“We are not only playing for ourselves, we are playing for everyone in Johannesburg. It means a lot. We really love putting in a performance for the supporters.

“I think the highlight for me so far was winning the South African Shield last season. Since I’ve been at the Lions, I’ve always wanted to win a trophy. So to win my first one was a very special moment.”

He added: “The leaders here make it very easy for us youngsters to feel part of the team. So I am fully settled and comfortable in the side.

“We have very good loose forwards here and, as a youngster, I obviously learn from the older guys. I’m around people who can mentor me. There is a lot that I learn and take from them at every training session.

“The way I play and the game that we play at the Lions is very suited for loose-forwards like me. The style of play here is the best for my abilities.

“I’d like to stay fit and injury free as the season goes on and just get better. There are parts of my game that I think I can still improve on.”

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DHL Stormers select star-studded side for revenge mission

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4 weeks ago

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9th October 2026

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DHL Stormers select star-studded side for revenge mission
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson // Photo Credit: Inpho Photography

The DHL Stormers will be looking to make amends for the low point of last season when they welcome the table-topping Hollywoodbets Sharks to Cape Town for a “Test match” showdown on Saturday.

John Dobson’s team were beaten twice by the Sharks in the BKT URC in the space of seven dark days back in January, losing 30-19 at home and then 36-24 in Durban a week later.

So they will be on a revenge mission at a packed DHL Stadium this weekend having selected a star-studded squad for the big South African derby.

“It was our low point of last season losing those two games to the Sharks,” admitted Dobson.

“We had the ignominy of losing to them at home. We didn’t even get a losing bonus point at home against a team that would have been lying tenth in the log or something.”

The Sharks will head for Cape Town in a very different spot in the league this time around.

They are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table as the only team to have picked up maximum points from the opening two rounds of BKT URC matches, beating the Ospreys (41-24) and champions Leinster Rugby (26-20) in Durban.

“It’s a confident Sharks team,” said Dobson.

“It’s Bok against Bok. It’s going to be one of those derbies.

“There are lots of reasons to buy tickets this week.

“Maybe last season we saw the Bulls as the big thing and were a bit soft on the Sharks. They weren’t flagged.

“I think this game is going to have the feel of a classic derby.

“I am not worried about raising the players. I am not worried about us being flat at all.

“It feels to me like a different group – highly motivated, focused, well led.”

Dobson has named eight Springboks in his starting XV, with the likes of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach and Paul de Villiers coming into the side, while there are a further three on the bench.

“With the respect we are showing the derby, the respect we are showing the Sharks and on the back of last season, we have gone with the strongest team we could possibly go,” he said.

“We are pretty much at as full a roster as we could have hoped for.

“It’s one of those games that we dream about in the year, a local derby against a Sharks team that is doing really well.

“We are welcoming back all our guys we are so proud of from the Springboks team.

“It’s a local derby at the best time to play rugby, 4pm on a Saturday afternoon at a heaving DHL Stadium.

“It’s going to be something very special, so we are super excited.

“This is as good a local derby as you are going to get.

“If you look at the quality of players across both teams, these are the guys who were doing the country so proud a few weeks ago and now they are going toe to toe.

“It will be the very best of South African rugby. It will be like a Test match out there. It’s going to be a special occasion.”

The Stormers will also be looking to make amends for last weekend’s 17-13 defeat away to Edinburgh Rugby when the lineout proved their Achilles heel as they lost no fewer than 11 throw-ins.

“All our key stats were better than the week before against Connacht,” said Dobson.

“Tackle dominance, line speed, post contact metres, 22 conversion rate were all up from the win in Galway.

“There was just the one thing that went wrong.”

As for the likelihood of the lineout improving this week, he said: “I just think with the level of disappointment, frustration and desperation we felt, it will be better.

“It has to be. We will lose this game if we lose six-plus lineouts.

“The top two contesting teams in the competition are Edinburgh and the Sharks. It’s a challenge.”

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