By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Suresh Rajcoomar/Fullview.
The Vodacoms Bulls have named a star-studded 23-man squad featuring 10 Springboks for their United Rugby Championship (URC) Jukskei derby against the 10bet Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Hanro Liebenberg will captain the side in the absence of Marcell Coetzee.
The Jukskei Derby is expected to be a thriller – not only given the rivalry between the two Gauteng-based teams, but also the fact that both sides will be desperate to stay in the top half of the table early in the competition to give themselves the best possible chance to secure playoff places later in the season.
Spicing up the clash, the men from Pretoria are currently the best attacking team in the competition with 69 points scored to 62 by the Johannesburgers, while they also boast a better defensive record with 39 points conceded so far to 45 – statistics that will undoubtedly boost their confidence going into the clash.
Bulls will, however, not underestimate the 10bet Lions, who were in good form in South Africa last season, losing only one home game 60km away from Pretoria, while they will also draw confidence from their 43-33 victory against Ivan van Rooyen’s team in a repeat of this match last year.
Johann Ackermann’s team managed to avenge that defeat in Johannesburg later in the season, registering a comprehensive 52-17 victory, which will set the scene for a gripping encounter.
Bulls Starting XV: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Canan Moodie, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Sebastian de Klerk, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Paul de Wet, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 7. Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. JF van Heerden, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 3. Francois Klopper, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16. Marco van Staden, 17. Alu Tshakweni, 18. Khutha Mchunu, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Elrigh Louw, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Handre Pollard, 23. Cheswill Jooste.
Unavailable: Reinhardt Ludwig, Akker van der Merwe, Embrose Papier, Mornay Smith, Mpilo Gumede, Stravino Jacobs, Mawande Mdanda.
Lions Starting XV: Quan Horn, Kelly Mpeku, Henco van Wyk, Ethan Adams, Richard Kriel, Chris Smith, Morne van den Berg, Francke Horn (capt), Siba Qoma, JC Pretorius, Hyron Andrews, Dylan Sjoblom, Sebastian Lombard, PJ Botha, Boan Venter.
Replacements: Morne Brandon, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, JP du Preez, Siba Mahashe, Batho Hlekani, Nico Steyn, Boeta Chamberlain.
Meanwhile the coastal clash between the DHL Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks is expected to be equally intense.
The Durbanites, second on the list of top scoring teams (67 points), are lining up against the best defensive side in the tournament, with the Capetonians having leaked only 32 points to 44 by the Durbanites.
Stormers Starting XV: Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (capt), Jonathan Roche, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Hacjivah Dayimani, Siya Kolisi, Paul de Villiers, JD Schickerling, Adré Smith, Wilco Louw, André-Hugo Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Vernon Matongo, Neethling Fouché, Riley Norton, Connor Evans, Evan Roos, Haashim Pead, Wandisile Simelane.
Sharks Starting XV: Zekhethelo Siyaya, Edwill van der Merwe, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Vusi Moyo, Jaden Hendrikse, Phepsi Buthulezi, Manu Tshituka, Matt Romao, Darrien Landsberg, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Eduan Swart, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Esethu Mnebelele, Cameron Dawson, Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins, Stephan Lewies, Nick Hatton, Ivan van Zyl, Gianni Lombard.