The Bulls are gearing up to take on the Dragons in a crucial United Rugby Championship (URC) match on Friday night, with coach Johan Ackermann advising his players to be in ‘final’ mode as they seek to strengthen their playoff aspirations.
The Bulls are currently in eighth position with 40 points, just one point ahead of Connacht, and a win against the Dragons could significantly boost their chances of making it into the top eight. The Dragons, on the other hand, are in 15th place and out of contention for a top-eight finish, but they have been performing well in the Challenge Cup, with back-to-back away wins against Stade Francais and Zebre.
Dragons’ Recent Form
Despite their poor form in the URC, the Dragons have shown glimpses of their potential, giving the Stormers a hard time in Cape Town and pushing the Lions close in Johannesburg. They also held the Sharks to a 17-17 draw, demonstrating that they are capable of competing against top-tier teams.
Dragons coach Fia Tiatia has downplayed the significance of their Challenge Cup success, stating that the team has ‘parked’ their European campaign and is now focused on the URC. ‘We celebrated what we did in Europe, but now we are back on the horse in the URC, and we have a good Bulls side coming,’ he said.
Team Lineups
The Bulls have made rotational adjustments for the match, with Handre Pollard and Embrose Papier retaining their half-back pairing. The team will be led by captain Marcelle Coetzee, who will be looking to inspire his teammates to a crucial win.
The Dragons, on the other hand, will be led by captain Harrison Keddie, who will be looking to build on their recent performances and cause an upset against the Bulls. The team lineup for the Dragons includes 15 Cai Evans, 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Fetuli Paea, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Niall Armstrong, 8 Harrison Keddie (c), 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Wyn Jones.
The Bulls lineup includes 15 Devon Williams, 14 David Kriel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcelle Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
According to the United Rugby Championship rules, the top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs, making this match a crucial one for the Bulls.
- Bulls: 40 points, 8th position
- Connacht: 39 points, 9th position
- Dragons: 20 points, 15th position
The match will be refereed by Sam Grove-White from Scotland, with assistance from Ben Breakspear and Lucas Yendle from Wales. The TMO will be Colin Brett from Scotland.
