It’s a tale as old as time, North vs South, the coast vs the highveld.  

South African rugby, like so many other top rugby nations, is built upon a steep history of interprovincial rivalries forged over 150 years of tradition. 

Four proud provincial unions now are represented in the United Rugby Championship, as South Africa once again looks to show the world just why it is considered one of, if not the preeminent, rugby nation.

This weekend’s two interprovincial derbies did not disappoint, as all four sides put on a special Christmas for their adoring fans.

Adding the extra spice to an already hyped-up weekend was the rematch of last season’s two finalists at the very venue where they battled for the inaugural crown. 

For the crowds that turned out in their thousands to watch the fixtures live, both matches served as a reminder of just why live rugby - local derbies in particular - are so special.

Sharks Chow Down On Toothless Lions

A young Emirates Lions side traveled to the coast to take on a heavily rotated Cell C Sharks side at the Shark Tank in Durban on Friday. 

Brimming with confidence following back-to-back Heineken Champions Cup victories, Neil Powell’s Sharks were looking to keep pace with Irish giant Leinster, local foes the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls atop the URC table.

Despite the mass rotations, the Sharks still possessed a number of frontline Springboks in their matchday 23, with Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi and Thomas Du Toit all starting. Siya Kolisi and Jaden Hendrikse came off the bench. 

It would be Mapimpi who would go on to have the greatest impact, as he nearly scored a hat trick of tries. He fell just short, scoring two tries after fumbling an earlier chance. 

The 32-year-old has been in glistening form once again this season, having already scored two tries against Harlequins in the Champions Cup just a fortnight ago. 

GET OFF ME!
Mapimpi is on a CHARGE! 💪 #BKTURC #URC | #SHAvLIO pic.twitter.com/bGDhPqlV06

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) December 23, 2022

It took just 15 minutes for the Sharks to get out to a two-try lead, though Mapimpi and fullback Boeta Chamberlain, who finished off a brilliant piece of interplay between Curwin Bosch and Am.

For the Lions, it always was going to be a tough ask to get a result in Durban, but even so, they looked devoid of ideas in the face of the Sharks pressure. 

Outside of winger Edwill van der Merwe, who forced Mapimpi into his early knock-on, as well as scoring a try of his own, the Lions looked out-classed by their rivals.

Coming into the clash, the two sides had two of the worst defensive records in the competition, per the URC website, with the Lions and the Sharks ranked 14th and 15th, respectively.  

This stat only appeared applicable to the Lions, as the Sharks looked assured in their defensive plan, in what was a physical battle from the off. 

Despite the Sharks clearly being in the ascendancy, the halftime score of 12-7 would highlight inaccuracy in the Sharks attack. 

Despite hammering away at the Lions try line, as they often times camped in the Lions 22, the Sharks lacked the clinical edge to finish their opportunities. 

The second half would prove to be more fruitful, as the Sharks, at times, found their groove, namely thanks to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who entered the fray from the bench. 

Kolisi’s presence and experience paid dividends immediately, as Chamberlain charged down opposite number Andries Coetzee. As the ball bounced, Sharks halfback Grant Williams scooped it up and raced away for the score. That gave the hosts some breathing space. 

That step though 🤤

Grant Williams with a lovely finish for the Sharks. #BKTURC #URC | #SHAvLIO pic.twitter.com/IIDV6VDE8s

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) December 23, 2022

Despite now having a cushion, the Sharks continued to be their own worst enemies. They bludgeoned a numbered of opportunities, before Kolisi finally crossed for the all-important bonus-point try. 

In the end, the 37-10 win was a fair score, but it could’ve been so much more, had the Sharks been even marginally better with their finishing ability. 

With the win, the Sharks moved to 24 log points, joint with Glasgow and the Lions, but with a game in hand due to their suspended fixture against Ulster earlier in the season. 

Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Vincent Tshituka, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Thomas du Toit. 

Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Ben Tapuai. 

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Ruan Venter, 7 Darrien Landsberg, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith. 

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Stean Pienaar.

Stormers Blitz Bulls For Derby Bragging Rights And Crucial URC Log Points 

Jake White’s Vodacom Bulls traveled to Cape Town to take on John Dobson’s Stormers in a repeat of last season’s United Rugby Championship final.

Playing in front of jam-packed Cape Town Stadium, South Africa’s biggest rivalry did not disappoint, as two contrasting styles locked horns for a tense, tight and physical battle. 

Deadlocked at 13 at halftime, following a 40-minute arm wrestle, it appeared as though the Bulls had dragged their hosts into a battle of wills and, in turn, into their territory. 

No less than they deserve! 💪

The Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby go over in emphatic style! 🤩 #BKTURC #URC | #STOvBUL pic.twitter.com/kSYLgqbUM9

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) December 23, 2022

As is a hallmark with all Jake White-coached sides, the Bulls pride themselves on bringing a no frills, suffocating game plan that drags opponents into deep water to test just how badly they want to emerge victorious.

While the stampeding Bulls may have succeeded with their physical game plan in the first half, it was the Stormers flair that would prove to be the difference between the two sides in the second 40. 

In a frantic five-minute period, the Stormers exploded. They blitzed the Bulls for three quick-fire tries to race into a 34-13 lead. 

Firstly, it was Springboks hooker Joseph Dweba, who showed immense strength, as he burrowed his way through three Bulls defenders to score the go-ahead try. 

Straight from the restart, the Stormers vaunted attack once again sprang into action, as they attacked from deep to score immediately through Suleiman Hartzenberg. 

Hartzeberg and winger Leolin Zas combined for an excellent 1-2 combination down the touchline, as they hit the Bulls hard and fast to push the Stormers out to 27-13 lead.

Blink, and you might miss it, would be the best way to describe the Stormers fourth, and final, try, as Boks fly-half Manie Libbok pierced the Bulls defense with the precision of a highly decorated surgeon.

As Libbok hit the afterburners, it appeared as though he may have butchered the opportunity, as he flung a 30-meter pass to the oncoming Zas.  

And that's what makes them the CHAMPIONS they are! 🤩#BKTURC #URC | #STOvBUL pic.twitter.com/IhaF0ia8X3

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) December 23, 2022

Zas plucked the ball from the air and still had plenty of work to do, as he stepped through no less than five Bulls cover defenders to showcase his finishing prowess.  

Despite the onslaught and shock of the Stormers attack, the Bulls remained calm as they began going to work. 

Sticking to ‘Plan A,’ the Pretoria side battered its way back into the contest, firstly through a try to Marco van Standen, who muscled his way through a number of Stormers defenders.  

With the conversion from Johan Goosen, the score was 34-20 with 15 minutes to play. 

Libbok would respond for the Stormers. He coolly slotted a 40-meter penalty to take the Stormers out to a 37-20 lead. 

With the result now no longer in doubt, the Bulls pushed hard to secure a losing bonus point. Legendary Boks hooker Bismarck Du Plessis powered his way over for a try.

At 38 years old, Du Plessis reminded the South African Rugby public of his prowess, but even with the conversion, it was not enough for the Bulls to secure the losing bonus point.

In the end, the 37-27 score was a fair reflection of the difference between the two sides. 

While the Bulls remain a handful due to their physicality, they ultimately are a limited operation when matched up front. 

Despite possessing a backline jampacked with talent, many of whom are bordering on world class, White’s game plan expects his backline players to operate more as strike runners who operate of scraps, rather than building the focus around their strengths.  

Both Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse, outside of catching a few high balls and defending heroically, were all but anonymous.  

Dobson’s Stormers on the other hand, had a very different kettle of fish, who once again proved they can win a game in an instant. 

In a response to Johan Cruyff’s ‘total football,’ the Stormers employ ‘total rugby,’ where forwards are expected to pass, and backs are expected to hit rucks. In short, all 15 players are ball players, irrespective of the numbers on their backs. 

More so than anything, this clash was a reminder of the Stormers strength in depth, as the champions were without several frontline forwards for the clash. Most notably, the Boks duo of Salmaan Moerat and Evan Roos were absent.

While a number of scrums went array, the Stormers, by and large, matched the Bulls physically in a stark reminder that they are true contenders for both the URC and Heineken Champions Cup titles once again this season. 

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (c).

Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.

Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16. Bismarck Du Plessis, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Sebastian Lombard, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Stravino Jacobs.

Written by Philip Bendon