Ahead of his move to Cape Town, Bulls tighthead Wilco Louw will look to terrorise his future Stormers teammates with his strong scrums and runs for potentially the final time at Loftus Versfeld this season.
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As anticipation builds for the United Rugby Championship (URC) clash between the Bulls and the Stormers, the attention will naturally turn to the individual duels that could shape the North-South derby outcome.
Both teams boast Springboks aplenty and rising stars that can turn a game on its head. Therefore, the contest will likely be decided by which side wins the key battles across the park on Saturday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld (2pm start).
From the two Bok generals pulling the strings, to some anticipated bruising encounters up front. We look at five player matchups to watch when the Bulls and Stormers collide in the final local derby of the round-robin stage.
The duel between Pollard and Feinberg-Mngomezulu pits plenty of experience against bucketloads of youthful brilliance. Pollard’s return to the Bulls restored authority at flyhalf with his top game management, tactical kicking, and nerveless goal-kicking. He can dictate tempo and territory, and it will be crucial in Pretoria.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu represents the new generation of Stormers playmakers. He is fearless in attack and possesses a wide skill set that puts him in the driving seat when the game opens up.
If the youngster can impose himself and keep a level head in terms of when to do this and when not to, the Stormers could gain a crucial edge.
In the midfield, the physical clash on attack and defence between Moodie and Nel promises plenty of fireworks.
The Bulls’ star has rapidly grown into one of the most dangerous backs, combining his power, pace, and impressive defensive instincts. His prowess under the high ball will be important, especially if the Stormers turn to an aerial battle.
Nel is returning from injury and thrown in at the deep end. But he has plenty of experience and has become one of the Stormers’ most reliable and combative centres.
Known for his defensive steel and relentless work rate, he relishes shutting down dangerous runners on the outside. That will be needed with the likes of Sebastian de Klerk and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wing for the Bulls.
Up front, the battle between Louw and Mchunu will be crucial at scrum time. Louw is one of the most powerful tighthead props in South African rugby and has an appetite for putting the visitors in reverse.
He anchors the Bulls scrum with his brute strength and accuracy. His ability to generate penalties can tilt momentum in the Bulls’ favour.
Mchunu, on the other hand, brings mobility and dynamism from the loosehead side for the Stormers.
While he must contend with the brute force of Louw in the scrum, his contributions around the park — from tackles to carries — add another dimension. If he can hold firm at scrum time, he could become a major influence.
Expect fireworks at the breakdown between veterans Coetzee and Fourie. Coetzee has an engine that never stops and is the heartbeat of the Bulls pack.
He brings relentless physicality, aggression at the ruck, and leadership. But his ability to slow the opposition ball down could be crucial on Saturday.
Fourie is not someone who wants to be eased back onto the field after injury, and this mini-battle with Coetzee is exactly what he would want. The 39-year-old remains one of the smartest and most durable forwards in the Stormers setup.
Despite his age, he continues to deliver tireless performances, particularly at the breakdown.
These are the two men who will be tasked with running their lineouts as smoothly as possible. Nortjé has grown into one of the Bulls’ most dependable workhorses, bringing steadiness to the pack with his lineout calling and contesting.
He will have taken note of the Stormers’ fragile lineouts in the last few derbies.
Schickerling, known for his physicality in contact and willingness to put his body on the line, plays an important role on defence and stopping mauls.
If he can disrupt the Bulls’ set-piece and match Nortjé’s intensity in the tight exchanges, it could go a long way toward helping the Stormers dominate the forwards battle.