Sharks keen to deliver knockout blow against Bulls

Hollywoodbets Sharks wing Edwill van der Merwe admits that his team’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday is huge in the context of the fight for a top eight finish.

“As a team, we’re all disappointed with the result of the game against the Lions and the performance we put out, we know that doesn’t meet our standards, so this week’s preparations have focused collectively on fixing it.

“But the week’s prep has been good and we’re looking to rectify it on the weekend.”

Derbies are huge matches and they don’t get much bigger than when the Sharks and Bulls meet. Not only is it personal but also professional in terms of the fight for the knock-outs.

“The race for the top eight is on, so every game is crucial,” van der Merwe explains.

“But more so the South African derbies, particularly this week. The Vodacom Bulls are an incredible side, especially at home where they have their fans behind them, so we expect a very physical challenge from them and for them to be fired up.

“We know we have to be at our absolute best on Saturday so we can deliver.”

While the rivalry is most notable at a team level, he does have opponents that are also vying for Springbok jerseys which adds to the competition, although this is secondary to what he wants to bring to this game.

“My focus is not to outshine them, all I am focused on is what the team requires of me so I look to express myself within the framework of the team and the rest will take care of itself.”

For a second consecutive week, the Sharks play their URC match on the highveld and the aerial battle will once again be keenly contested, something he expects with conviction.

“The aerial contest is something I’ve worked hard on, I wasn’t as sharp as I would like against the Lions and it’s something we as a team rely heavily on, so for me personally, I want to be better in that space. There are Springbok wings on both sides, so I know I need to bring my A-game on the weekend.”

A full set of fixtures lies ahead this weekend while the race for the eight continues unabated with a third of the pool stages remaining before the play-offs.

This is a match the Sharks are only too aware that holds their future of this season’s tournament, along with the SA Shield.

Andre Esterhuizen will lead a strong Sharks team to Pretoria to take on the Bulls in their final derby match of 2025/26 Vodacom United Rugby Championship season.

A 21-12 victory over the Pretoria side at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in December set the Sharks up nicely on the log and they followed that up with back-to-back, home and away victories over the DHL Stormers to rise to the top of the SA Shield.

This Saturday is all about delivering the knockout punch and securing the points needed to lift the shield but it’s not going to be easy against the side two places above the Sharks on the overall log, having played one game fewer and enjoying a one-point lead over the Durban side.

Head coach JP Pietersen has welcomed back Springboks Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Phepsi Buthelezi, Jordan Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi and Esterhuizen to the starting line-up as he looks to provide leadership and experience to his team against the old foe.

The Bulls reined in a four-match run of losses in the competition when they defeated Edinburgh and the Lions in successive weeks and will be buoyed by their recent form, delivering up another mouth-watering contest between the two sides whose shared history of battle goes back decades.

Hollywoodbets Sharks starting XV: 15 Jaco Williams - Glenwood High School, 14 Edwill van der Merwe - Paul Roos Gimnasium, 13 Jurenzo Julius - Paul Roos Gimnasium, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (capt) - Hoerskool Klerksdorp, 11 Makazole Mapimpi - Jim Mvabaza Senior Secondary School; 10 Jordan Hendrikse - Glenwood High School, 9 Jaden Hendrikse - Glenwood High School; 8 Phepsi Buthelezi - Durban High School, 7 Vincent Tshituka - Northcliff High School, 6 Tino Mavesere - Churchill Boys High School; 5 Emile van Heerden - Paarl Boys High School, 4 Jason Jenkins - St Albans College; 3 Vincent Koch - Huguenot High School, 2 Eduan Swart - Hoȅrskool Oos-Moot, 1 Ox Nche - HTS Louis Botha Technical School. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha - Martizburg College, 17 Phatu Ganyane - Glenwood High School, 18 Hanro Jacobs - Paul Roos Gimnasium, 19 Corne Rahl - Hoȅr Landbouskool Oakdale, 20 Thomas Dyer - Hilton College, 21 Ross Braude - Grey College, 22 Siya Masuku - Piet Retief High School, 23 Yaw Penxe - Queens College.

SATURDAY

Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA/5pm SA

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU, 21st league game)

AR 1: Griffin Colby (SARU) AR 2: Jonathan Lottering (SARU)

TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv