If South African rugby had a pressure gauge, it would be trembling ahead of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship north-south derby at a sold-out DHL Stadium. The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls collide like tectonic plates, with pride, points and bragging rights grinding beneath their boots.
At the heart of this coastal storm stands the duel everyone has circled in red ink: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu versus Handré Pollard.
This match-up epitomises the future of Bok rugby squaring off against its double World Cup-winning general. One plays like a jazz improviser, the other like a seasoned chess grandmaster. Saturday will test whose rhythm controls the tempo.
Stormers Reloaded, Bulls Recalibrated
The Stormers receive a timely shot of Springbok stardust with Damian Willemse returning for his 100th start in blue and white, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu resumes command at flyhalf.
Who is ready for some Gaza magic?#STOvBUL #inittogether @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/QhX5G2biLE
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 31, 2025
Director of Rugby John Dobson framed the occasion with fitting gravitas:
“This is one of the biggest club rugby matches in the world and will be played in front of a sold-out DHL Stadium. It should be an incredible experience for everyone there.
We know that we will need to be at our absolute best throughout the game to come away with the result.”
Willemse’s reunion with Wandisile Simelane in midfield adds muscle and mischief, while the halfback axis of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach promises lightning tempo. Out wide, Suleiman Hartzenberg brings finishing speed, while Warrick Gelant roams at the back like a counter-attacking hawk.
Up front, the Stormers bank on brute force and cohesion: Salmaan Moerat leads from lock alongside JD Schickerling, while Evan Roos and Ben-Jason Dixon ensure the breakdown remains a battlefield.
The Bulls arrive with steel in their spine and a recalibrated engine room. Ruan Nortje returns to captain the side, restoring authority to the pack, while Marco van Staden injects breakdown menace.
Head coach Johan Ackermann stressed alignment and intensity:
“We’ve assessed the Sharks game and made adjustments where needed. Ruan’s leadership is vital, and bringing in players like Canan Moodie and Marco van Staden gives us the right balance for this contest. It’s about alignment and intensity as we start the year.”
The Bulls’ backline carries pedigree and punch. Pollard, with Willie le Roux lurking at fullback and Canan Moodie shifting into midfield, gives Pretoria a tactical edge built on experience, aerial control and game management. Wilco Louw anchoring the scrum ensures no easy yards are conceded.
Saturday promises thunder, lightning and the unmistakable crack of a derby collision where reputations are tested and legacies nudged forward.
Tactical Fault Lines to Watch
-
Flyhalf chess match: Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s instinctive flair versus Pollard’s ice-cold control.
-
Midfield collisions: Willemse and Simelane testing Moodie and Kriel in a collision-heavy channel.
-
Breakdown warfare: Van Staden and Louw against Roos and Dixon, turnover gold could decide momentum.
-
Bench impact: The Stormers’ bomb squad faces a Bulls bench stacked with Test experience.
Team Sheets
DHL Stormers:
15 Warrick Gelant; 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Ruan Ackermann; 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c); 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Sazi Sandi, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee.
Vodacom Bulls:
15 Willie le Roux; 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Khuta Mchunu, Ruan Vermaak, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Devon Williams.
Match Information
Date: Saturday, January 3
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 18:00 (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
