It's all change and high stakes for the Vodacom Bulls and Stormers as they lean on their Springbok stars to dominate the United Rugby Championship (URC). With Jake White's departure and Johan Ackermann taking the reins, it seems the Bulls are geared up for a resurgence, packing their roster with a whopping 13 Boks for their season tour. The Stormers, meanwhile, are hitting the ground running, undefeated and ready to rumble in Europe.
According to Mark Keohane, the Bulls are banking on the formidable duo of Wilco Louw and Handre Pollard to lead the charge. Pollard, making a grand return to Pretoria after a seven-year stint overseas, and Louw, described by Keohane as "the most destructive scrumming tighthead in the world," are expected to be game changers. Under White, the Bulls stumbled at the final hurdle in three URC finals, but hopes are high that with Pollard’s strategic prowess and Louw’s scrum dominance, this season could turn out differently.
"Primary to these Boks is the combo of tighthead Wilco Louw and flyhalf Handre Pollard."
Meanwhile, the Stormers aren’t just sitting pretty with a spotless record; they’ve got their own arsenal ready to deploy. With players like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, and the fresh addition of Cobus Reinach, they're looking formidable as they embark on their European tour.
The Bulls, under Ackermann's fresh leadership, have already shown promise with victories against Ospreys and Leinster, though Keohane points out that tightening up the defense will be crucial. Over in the Lions’ camp, they're hoping home advantage will be their salvation after a tough loss to Zebre. The Sharks, bolstered by four Boks, face a challenging encounter against Leinster in Dublin.
Indeed, for all the South African teams, the influence of their international players will be pivotal. As the URC heats up, the South African contingent, loaded with homegrown talent, is not just participating — they're on a mission to dominate.
Teams mentioned: Bulls, Stormers, Lions, Sharks, Ospreys, Leinster, Zebre, Glasgow.
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It's all change and high stakes for the Vodacom Bulls and Stormers as they lean on their Springbok stars to dominate the United Rugby Championship (URC). With Jake White's departure and Johan Ackermann taking the reins, it seems the Bulls are geared up for a resurgence, packing their roster with a whopping 13 Boks for their season tour. The Stormers, meanwhile, are hitting the ground running, undefeated and ready to rumble in Europe.
According to Mark Keohane, the Bulls are banking on the formidable duo of Wilco Louw and Handre Pollard to lead the charge. Pollard, making a grand return to Pretoria after a seven-year stint overseas, and Louw, described by Keohane as "the most destructive scrumming tighthead in the world," are expected to be game changers. Under White, the Bulls stumbled at the final hurdle in three URC finals, but hopes are high that with Pollard’s strategic prowess and Louw’s scrum dominance, this season could turn out differently.
"Primary to these Boks is the combo of tighthead Wilco Louw and flyhalf Handre Pollard."
Meanwhile, the Stormers aren’t just sitting pretty with a spotless record; they’ve got their own arsenal ready to deploy. With players like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, and the fresh addition of Cobus Reinach, they're looking formidable as they embark on their European tour.
The Bulls, under Ackermann's fresh leadership, have already shown promise with victories against Ospreys and Leinster, though Keohane points out that tightening up the defense will be crucial. Over in the Lions’ camp, they're hoping home advantage will be their salvation after a tough loss to Zebre. The Sharks, bolstered by four Boks, face a challenging encounter against Leinster in Dublin.
Indeed, for all the South African teams, the influence of their international players will be pivotal. As the URC heats up, the South African contingent, loaded with homegrown talent, is not just participating — they're on a mission to dominate.
Teams mentioned: Bulls, Stormers, Lions, Sharks, Ospreys, Leinster, Zebre, Glasgow.