Bulls v Sharks - Tale of the Tape

STAT ATTACK: The Bulls will host the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday in the first of the #BIG South African derbies in the United Rugby Championship.

There was the Stormers’ 35-33 Round One win over the Lions, but all the other games involving South African teams were against European opposition.

Now, with the Springboks having returned in bulk in Round Six, there will be a handy collection of World Cup winners on display in Pretoria.

The Sharks, who recorded their first win of the season against the Dragons (69-14), will again be able to call on Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Jaden Hendrikse, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche and Grant Williams.

The Bulls, after disposed of Connacht (53-27) in their first game back at Loftus since Round One, will again be able to field Willie le Roux, Marco van Staden and Canan Moodie – with Kurt-lee Arendse waiting in the wings.

The last three meetings between the two sides in the URC have all been won by the home side.

However, the Sharks’ only previous victory at Loftus Versfeld in the URC was 29-22 in February 2022.

The Bulls have lost their last five fixtures against fellow South African sides in the United Rugby Championship.

The Bulls’ two defeats in the URC this season both came on the road at Ulster in Round Two and at Edinburgh in Round Five.

The Bulls have won their last four home games in the URC since the Lions beat them 29-25 in March.

The Sharks have not won away from home in the URC since beating the Lions 29-7 in Johannesburg in February.

The Sharks’ seven-game winless run in the URC ended with their 69-14 rout of the Dragons in Durban last weekend.

* Statistics provided by SFMS