Bulls vs Sharks - Pick your URC final contenders

We have not seen the team line ups as yet, but we pretty much know who the run on team will be. There is much separating the teams when it comes to the pack, but I do believe the iShaka have the better backline. If anything, I think the sharks are worse off having Kolisi at 8.

I think the front row and tight five will be a massive battle as it is very well balanced. Perhaps young Jan Hendrik will need to show what he learned this season and if he can stand against a world class tighthead or turnip head koch.

I think Wilco Louw will have to show what he can do agains the worlds best Loosehead in Ox. Very difficult to scrum against for a such a short guy but hugely impactful and probably one of our best Looseheads after Os. This guys surprises me every time he packs down.

even tight 5,

Then the back row I think the Bools take this. Marcel Coetzee is such a good player and he has been injury free most of the season. Could be one of the most unluckiest loose forwards in the Rassie era not to get more game time. I would definitely have selected him ahead of Kolisi. We have Hannekom that is light years ahead of Kolisi as an 8, Marcel at 6 is way ahead of venter. Vincent T is probably ahead of Nortje as he is great in contact. So this is a 2/1 to the Bools for me

9 + 10 Axis is the most worrying for me as both brothers were awful despite the journo's rating them above 7. I think young Keegan Johannes is showing some great versatility and very elusive. The don't have the same size as the bro's but can be super lethal

I give this to the bools

0 - 2

Centres - Lucky Am has been woeful out of form and I wonder why plumbers still keep selecting him. however Andre has been so instrumental in getting the sharks that gain line momentum, but only for absolute crap Jaden fuck up it up every single time. This guy must have some fetish for the hum centerpede, the amount of time he is slow to get to the ruck, never able to get speed out of the rucks and then just revert to centrepede. Maybe he likes eating ass. Fuck this guy annoys the crap out of me. However Vorster has become a bit of journeyman and just does the basics but nothing more. Kriel hasn't really set the world alight but better than Am at this stage. So it will be even for me

2-2

Back 3, now this is probably where the iShaka's out shine the Bools. The bools have been able to get some gain line momentum and Willie is just on another level. He was at the heart of all the bools backline tries. I would give Willie the 15 over Fassie, even though Fassi with ball in hand is lethal as a runner but still needs a lot of work on his link play and tactical awareness. Moodie is slowly getting back into form and this another difficult one. Do you give it to Hooker or Moodie. Then, Mpimpi defence is awful and it has always been piss poor. For all the good he does on attack, he give equal away on defence and so it cancels out what he does. Hooker is the only back 3 player that can change a game but also has the highest work rate of all 6 players in the back 3. This guy never gives up chasing, covering, tackling and trying to get in the game. He plays the entire game. So to me it is

1/2 Rating, Willie, Moodie with Hooker from the sharks. Fassi is a close call between him and Willie, but I think the Veteran takes this one.

Not much that separates these team, even though the bools Midfield is not as strong, I think they will take this one as they have a much better 9, their pack is even and probably have better players coming off the bench.

Then you had iShaka having an energy sapping game.

However, leave it to the dopy brothers to come and final perform when it counts and Jordan starting to sink his long range penalties like he did last year.

So for me it is the Bools at home at Lofust, my only question is can they go up another gear in the final quarter and not run out of ideas and concede points. Will be a great spectacle of running rugby on the high veld. Hope Loftus is packed this weekend

Difficult to pick a winner in this case, I think amongst the forwards e battle wll be 50-50 - but in the backline the Bulls have the edge. The Sharks backline bar Hooker is malfunctioning totally - so who will win in a match where in the quarters where the Sharks backline br Hooker show serious inadequacies,

The Bulls I believe has the edge since the Shark backline from 9 to12 is a total mess wth inadequate ball skills and deficencies in thinking rugby. So my forecast is a Bulls win by 13 points. But I will wait and see what happens in team selection before I make a final forecast.

Does anyone have a favourite team they want to win on the weekend. I'm Stormers fan but I have been that impressed with them this season and they have gone backwards over the past few seasons since winning the comp. Although, they have had some big names injured and career ending. So no Malherbe or Kittshoff. But always question Malherbe value given he hardly ever plays for the Stormers

I love the sharks team on paper and was really excited, but I am so frustrated with how they play. I definitely think the Hendriks brothers are stuffing them up. Why need stick with Masuku. Not the most flashy 10's but he has grit and just gets on with the game.

I'm 50/50 with the bulls. Of course a natural enemy of a WP boy, so always the old foe. I will never forget the day when a Bulls fan shouted at me. this big bearded Bulls supporter. you WP Poes. I was 8, tells you very much about the mentality back then. Also, Jake has had so many chances and probably has the deepest pockets when it comes to all the unions and he simply hasn't been able to produce. So on one hand I feel the bulls must win the URC or it will be 4 years wasted

"Also, Jake has had so many chances and probably has the deepest pockets when it comes to all the unions and he simply hasn't been able to produce. So on one hand I feel the bulls must win the URC or it will be 4 years wasted"

They made the final last year and it looks like they'll be in the final this year too.

I consider that "productive".

You can't write off or dispute what Jake has done with the teams that he has been involved with in the past.

His teacher / headmaster tactics often made some of his players turn against him, but he did improve teams where he was invloved and get results.

Jake is a very effective coach and he knows how to implement structure and discipline and create a simple game plan that the players can follow. It has worked for him over the years. However, many teams end up getting frustrated with him, the Brumbies, the Sharks, Montpellier were all teams that managed to get their team back to the top but then when it comes to actually winning, his team can't go that extra gear that you need from championship teams. Even in our world with cup with England it was touch and go. Literally that touch line that saved us.

Very good for any under performing team to have him around, but the bulls have been now in two finals.

Stormer v Bulls (Jake's team beat Leinster at home, huge effort and should have been comp winners)

Stormers vs Munster (Munster played all of their knock-out games away from home and just went up a grear and produced when it counted)

Bulls v Glasgow (Glasgow went to Loftus and beat the bulls up, the bulls were doing well in the first half but then just ran out of ideas in the 2nd half and they had not impact on the game)

It is that last 20 min of the season that always stuff of Jakes team and it has also shown this season that his team just can't shift and they concede a lot of points in the final quarter

So big new is that Eben is out, Jenkins didn't recover either. On the positive side, Goosen is back for the Bools. Will provide a lot more direction to the backline, although, Johannes, normally a 9 has filled his boots with aplomb.

I think the advantage is now on the bulls side. Losing two of your front line locks, then they still have the Dopey Brothers who has been criticised by Mark Kohane for being absolutely ponderous and use at the base of the ruck and at 10.