In the only game of the weekend, the first Trans-Jukskei Derby of the season pits the Bulls against the Lions to Loftus Versfeld. Shaun Goosen previews.
Bulls v Lions
Saturday 27 January 2024
Loftus Versveld
15:00
To Win Match
Bulls 1/8 | Draw 33/1 | Lions 5/1
Handicap
Bulls (-14.5) 17/20 | Lions (+14.5) 17/20
Jake White’s men continue to impress, having collected Champions Cup wins over Bristol and Bordeaux to finish second in Pool 1 and set up a round-of-16 encounter with Lyon. In the URC they occupy sixth, just eight points off leaders Leinster albeit with a game in hand.
A big win over neighbours the Lions could see them finish the weekend as high as third which, heading into the competition’s Six Nations break, would give them a massive psychological boost.
With rain expected in Pretoria on Saturday, the back three experience of the likes of Willie Le Roux and Kurt-Lee Arendse will be pivotal. So too the set piece performance of the Bulls pack but considering the way they’ve played of late it would be a big surprise not to see them deliver the goods here.
The Lions’ recent Challenge Cup home defeat to Ospreys was a bitter pill to swallow given how dominant they were on the day, with Cash van Rooyen’s troops even leading 28-17 with time winding down on the clock. Although they did manage to secure safe passage to the playoffs, they face the tricky task of coming up against Benetton at the Stadio Comunale in April.
It will be a big ask for the Joburgers to turn around their form at Loftus, and while they should have their moments with ball in hand they shouldn’t have the firepower up front to outdo the hosts.
Verdict: Lions (+17.5) 17/20
The visitors should come away with a losing bonus point on Saturday. Back them to remain within a pretty big handicap.
