The old foes will once again face-off in the Currie Cup semi-finals with the Bulls and the Sharks taking centre stage this weekend.
The Bulls will host the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in the second semi-final in Pretoria on Saturday, with the match starting at 5pm. Earlier, the Lions will host the Free State Cheetahs at Ellis Park in the heat of the day in Johannesburg at 2.30pm.
As the Currie Cup heads towards its climax, as its place in a busy SA rugby calendar has been consistently questioned, Bulls director of Rugby Jake White is satisfied with his side’s preparation ahead of the clash.
“Obviously we got a big game this weekend against the Sharks in the [Currie Cup] semi-final. Not only is the Currie Cup side doing well and the additions to our squad who have blended in nicely with us,” White told SportsBoom.com.
Papier scores a brilliant team try by the Vodacom Bulls 💥
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 8, 2024
Everything was perfect from the scrum to the finish 🏉
📺 Stream #CarlingCurrieCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/lStwxAS1oL
‘Unique situation’
Sharks coach John Plumtree, meanwhile, will be looking to build on his side’s 24-18 victory against the same Bulls side a week ago in Durban.
“It was a big game for us last week against the Bulls in Durban and this weekend again in the semi-final,” said Plumtree.
“It’s certainly a unique situation where I have never been in before, not being able to use 24 players in a preseason game, rotate players or give them the right amount of game time.”
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen said it was difficult preparing for the semi, with one eye already on the United Rugby Championship which will see the South African sides enter the fray on September 28 - a week after the tournament begins for the rest of the teams.
“The preseason has been tricky for us having to use the back end of the Currie Cup as preseason games for the URC,” said Van Rooyen.
“In training we had to use Under-19 players to prepare for the URC and the Bulls Currie Cup game as preparation.”