Tickets for the United Rugby Championship clash sold out on Friday, adding more fuel to what promises to be a fiery affair between the bitter rivals. 

While the Stormers have had a tough campaign, they will be a different beast with their fanatical support behind them. The Bulls, in turn, are the form team in South Africa, but regardless of their respective log positions, it will be game on in the Mother City.

The Springbok and Stormers captain, Salmaan Moerat, said it’s going to be a big occasion, and they are motivated to put in a strong performance.

Jake White. Photo: Morgan Piek

“Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way, and it’s about adapting. We want to go out there and land the first blow,” said Moerat.

“Likewise, the Bulls will want to do that as well. But I think it’s a massive opportunity and not so much pressure. I think it’s a massive opportunity for this group of players. We spoke about the injuries we have, and it’s such a massive opportunity for us. We’re in front of our own crowd, playing against a quality Bulls team.”

The Bulls coach, Jake White, in turn, told OFM Sport that the North-South derby is such a big game, and for it to be played in front of a sold-out crowd is pleasing indeed. “I say it as the Bulls coach. It makes me very happy,” said White.

“When I was a teacher for a long time, during the derby games at the school I was at, I always used to say to the boys: as long as the derby game that we have historically is the strongest one and we give it the credit it deserves, then we're doing our jobs.

“Northern Transvaal vs. Western Province in the old days, and Stormers vs. Bulls as they are now, is obviously a big game on the calendar. When you hear they sold out and people are coming to the stadium, then I believe that both unions are doing their jobs.

“It would be a sad day if the Bulls were playing the Stormers anywhere and there weren’t people coming to watch the game. It would mean that we weren’t doing justice to the history before us. 

Marcell Coetzee. Photo: Morgan Piek

“I suppose if you know me well enough, you’d know about the Carel du Plessises, the Fanna Knoetzes, the Naas Bothas, and all those sorts of names that come to mind when you talk about Northern Transvaal and Western Province, and the Frik du Preezs. It means that it’s an important game.

“The one wish I have for the Bulls is that we play with the same amount of respect for the fixture as we’re getting from the supporters.”

Saturday’s big derby at the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point kicks off at 14:00.

Stormers – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole

Replacements – 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 Clayton Blommetjies

Bulls – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Replacements - 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Sebastian de Klerk

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh