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A third local derby featuring two coastal teams is scheduled for a week later, and these three matchups will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the SA Shield for the 2024/25 season.
The DHL Stormers, currently the sole South African team outside the top eight in the Vodacom URC, will clash with the Emirates Lions (currently in fifth place) in Cape Town on Saturday at 15h45. At the same time, the third-placed Vodacom Bulls will battle the sixth-placed Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban at 18h00.
As they reach the midpoint of their campaigns, the 13 log points that distinguish the Vodacom Bulls from the 13th-placed Stormers emphasize the need for all four SA teams to secure wins, with those in the top eight eager to hold their positions while the DHL Stormers aim to close the gap with the top half of the standings.
The match at DHL Stadium promises to be highly competitive as the DHL Stormers look to recover from two consecutive losses in the Investec Champions Cup, going up against an Emirates Lions team that has shown its capability and is keen to build on their 43-35 win over Section Paloise in the EPCR Challenge Cup last weekend.
The Cape side has only managed to secure two victories out of six Vodacom URC fixtures, while the Emirates Lions have recorded four wins from six, indicating that the DHL Stormers will encounter a confident opponent, particularly after succeeding in two of their four international away matches.
In Durban, the visiting Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks will also be eager to bounce back from their recent disappointments in the Investec Champions Cup. Both teams will be charged to deliver strong performances and maintain their standings.
Considering the Vodacom Bulls boast an impressive record of just one loss in six matches compared to the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ two defeats—alongside a narrow two-point difference in offensive statistics—the upcoming contest is set to be tightly contested.
However, the visiting squad holds a significantly stronger defensive record, having allowed 59 fewer points—a notable advantage they will certainly aim to leverage in this pivotal matchup.
The South African rugby year will conclude with another major derby on Saturday, December 28, featuring the DHL Stormers against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Cape Town, a match anticipated to be equally thrilling as both teams strive to secure favorable placements for potential playoff spots as the season progresses.
The derby for the ninth round between the Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions is scheduled to take place at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, February 22.
Match Information:
DHL Stormers vs Emirates Lions (R8)
Date: Saturday, 21 December
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 15h45
Referee: Christopher Alison
TV: SuperSport
Hollywoodbets Sharks vs Vodacom Bulls (R8)
Date: Saturday, 21 December
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kingspark, Durban
SA Time: 18h00
Referee: Morne Ferreira
TV: SuperSport
DHL Stormers vs Hollywoodbets Sharks (R9)
Date: Saturday, 28 December
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 17h00
Referee: TBC
TV: SuperSport
