Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier will look to use all his pace and skills against Sharks star Grant Williams. Photo: BackpagePix
Both the Bulls and Sharks are missing some big guns for Saturday’s massive United Rugby Championship showdown at Loftus Versfeld (5pm kick-off).
Bulls coach Jake White left out star loose forwards Cameron Hanekom and Marcell Coetzee when he named his team on Friday – ostensibly for resting purposes – while other big names like Elrigh Louw, Ruan Nortjé and Johan Goosen are injured.
Many of the incumbent Sharks Boks are either on a break or ruled out with injury, so there’s no Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch and André Esterhuizen, while Makazole Mapimpi is suspended.
But here are five exciting match-ups that could decide the Loftus encounter...
Canan Moodie v Ethan Hooker
Moodie made his first start in a while against the Stormers last week.
But due to their deliberate kicking strategy, Moodie had to mainly chase high balls all afternoon long, and didn’t get many opportunities with ball-in-hand.
He will hope to take on Hooker in one-on-one duels, but it won’t just be a case of a Bok running over the new kid on the block.
The Sharks utility back is actually an inside centre, but has shone at wing in his first full season of senior rugby.
He might not have the outright pace of a wing, but is able to pop up in the right places, and has a full go with his carries and gets stuck in on defence.
David Kriel v Jurenzo Julius
Here are two contrasting styles of play... Kriel is the hard-running midfielder who puts his body on the line, while Julius is all about side-stepping and little offloads in the tackle.
Mind you, Kriel isn’t shy of throwing a few audacious passes himself, and definitely has the better kicking game.
But can he keep the ‘Boogie Man’ Julius under wraps?
Embrose Papier v Grant Williams
This electric duel that could just decide whether Papier will earn a recall to the Bok squad this year.
He certainly deserves it, as he has been outstanding for the Bulls for the last two seasons.
But now he comes up against the incumbent Springbok No 9 in Williams, who is reportedly the fastest player in the national squad.
There will be fireworks on attack from both scrumhalves, who have also improved their box-kicking significantly in recent years.
But if Papier can stop Williams in his tracks around the fringes, the Bulls defence will breathe a sigh of relief.
Reinhardt Ludwig v Vincent Tshituka
Both blindside flanks will captain their teams due to the regular skippers being unavailable, but as much as their leadership will be severely tested, their personal performances will be vital.
Ludwig had another impressive display for the Bulls against the Stormers last week, making the hard yards on attack and putting in the big hits.
But Tshituka has been doing that since his Lions days, and is well overdue for a Springbok Test cap.
He will look to provide that inspiration for the Sharks to cause an upset, but Ludwig will aim to continue being an effective ball-carrier and lineout option.
Johan Grobbelaar v Bongi Mbonambi
Grobbelaar made a belated Springbok debut last year, but if he wants to be a regular presence in the Test arena, he needs to show that he can get the better of first-choice No 2 Mbonambi.
The Bulls hooker is lethal in contesting the breakdowns and is quick across the ground, while his lineout-throwing is usually accurate.
With no Ruan Nortjé, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom to aim at, Grobbelaar will be tested in the set-piece, as he has two youngsters calling the lineout in Ludwig and JF van Heerden.
Mbonambi doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone, except to show Bok coach Rassie Erasmus that he still has the hunger to play Test rugby.
With a large number of Boks missing for the Sharks, Mbonambi will have to throw his body around in the tight-loose and scrums against a powerful Bulls pack.
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