Six blockbuster battles as SA teams launch Champions Cup campaigns

OPINION: Same mission, different results – that is what the South African franchises will focus on in the latest addition to the Champions Cup as they kick off their 2026/27 campaigns this weekend.

The Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks haven’t had much to show for their participation in the premier club competition until now.

In three seasons of the quest for club-rugby supremacy, the furthest the South African representatives have managed to get were the quarterfinals.

While the Lions are making their competition debut after winning the South African Shield in the United Rugby Championship last season and finishing in the top eight for the first time in their history, their newbie status, lack of Springboks, and the fact that they’ll be playing in front of a hostile French crowd mean that there is little to no pressure on them early on, especially considering that their Round-One opposition are a Top 14 powerhouse and former two-time champions, La Rochelle.

That is not to say the Bulls and Stormers will have it easy against Stade Francais and Bristol Bears, respectively, in South Africa, but the Bok flavour and Champions Cup experience certainly put more pressure on them to perform and make the most of their home-ground advantage.

We look at six of the biggest match-ups across the three games featuring South African teams.

Stormers v Bristol Bears:

Damian Willemse v Tobi Wilson

Bristol’s fast and fearless approach should make for an entertaining display against the Stormers, who have been vocal about wanting to honour the high-tempo style of the iconic “Men in Black” era along with their set-piece strengths.

While Louis-Rees Zammit’s omission is certainly a disappointing one given how much-anticipated his battle with aerial master Damian Willemse was, that focus now simply shifts to Wilson.

The Bristolian has made a name for himself with his pace and finishing, but he will be up against the best in the business when it comes to the aerial contest.

Willemse has been on a whole other level this season, mixing his high-ball potency and counter-attacking brilliance for the Springboks during the Nations Championship and against the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

He continued his outstanding ways in his first game back at his franchise in a coastal derby against the Sharks, constantly injecting pace into the Stormers’ attack.

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Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu v Sam Worsley

The Stormers flyhalf was the best back in their URC Round-Three fixture as he returned to form in sensational fashion.

His performance was immensely important for both the Stormers and the Boks after he was rusty against Argentina in Buenos Aires and struggled against the All Blacks despite his continued backing. But in Cape Town against the Sharks last weekend, he was superb.

While Worsley is highly rated for his game management and precision tactical kicking, the battle of the young 10s should be won by Feinberg-Mngomezulu quite convincingly…if he builds on what he produced in the Mother City last week.

Bulls v Stade Français:

Luan Giliomee v Leo Monin

Giliomee will make his Bulls debut after becoming one of the Sharks’ most dangerous men, and his two-try display against the Ospreys was probably the best recent advertisement of his exceptional balling ability.

He brings pace, impressive acceleration off the mark, footwork, and vision that have seen him become a marked man by many a URC team at just 20 years of age.

Saying the future-Bok talks surrounding him are justified is an understatement, and while Leo Monin himself boasts eye-catching acceleration and counter-attacking threat, it’s hard to imagine Giliomee being outdone in this one-on-one.

*Also read: Champions Cup, Round One – Teams and Predictions

Cameron Hanekom v Juan-Martin Scelzo

The Springbok loose forward was in a rampant mood against the Lions last week. He was just brutal in everything he did.

From his carries to his defence to that hand-off, he was at the forefront of everything great on the day, and he brought the physicality to boot.

Hanekom was also the Bok standout when they edged Argentina in Buenos Aires before the four-Test series against the All Blacks, while Scelzo made his Los Pumas debut coming off the bench in the thriller.

While he wasn’t on the field long enough to make a real impact, he and Hanekom will have ample time to battle it out when they start at the back of the scrum at Loftus.

Stade Rochelais v Lions:

Chris Smith v Antoine Hastoy

One of the biggest mini battles in this game will be the goal kicking, with both flyhalves known for their magnetic relationship with the uprights.

While Smith produced some uncharacteristic misdirected kicks at goal recently, he may just return to his metronomic ways against an equally accurate Hastoy.

When not setting up the tee, the French flyhalf brings a varied kicking game that can wreak havoc, though Smith also knows a thing or two about finding his wingers with a kick-pass.

They are both game-managing flyhalves with tactical smarts, so it should certainly make for an intriguing match-up.

Siba Mahashe v Theo McFarland

It should be a humdinger of a dual between two exhilarating loose forwards.

Mahashe is a fleet-footed loosie who routinely delivers smooth, almost gliding yet powerful ball-carrying from the fringes; he thrives in broken play, while McFarland offers a different threat with his lineout work and aerial prowess.

The common threat between these two back-row forwards is their athleticism – pace and agility aren’t in short supply in either of them, while there are also those soft skills.

They might just take some shine away from the backs.