By Dylan Bettencourt
The rugby world comes to a standstill on Saturday when the Bulls host Leinster at Loftus Versveld.
The match will determine which team advances to the final of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) and is also a game between two of the best teams in the world.
“This is a dress rehearsal of the test match at Loftus,” said Bulls coach Jake White. “Leinster are going to bring almost an Irish team to South Africa. We can measure how good we are against Ireland.”
He also said the game would allow Bulls players to show the selectors if they were good enough for the Springboks.
And don’t hope for a fast-flowing open match with the ball being flung around from side to side. This will be a tough forwards clash with Akker van der Merwe and Wilco Louw in the spotlight for Springbok selection.
The Bulls are without Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie, but this means Sergeal Petersen and Devon Williams are given a chance to shine with Willie le Roux managing the back three.
In the other VURC semifinal, Ulster take on the Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland.
Munster are expected to win, but the Glasgow Warriors are a tough bunch, as shown last week in their dismantling of the Stormers.
Munster are the defending champions and are at the top of the log. They are almost certain to host the final on 22 June in Limerick.
Bulls vs Leinster at Loftus Versveld on Saturday at 4pm.
Munster vs Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park, Limerick on Saturday at 7 pm.
Both matches are live on DStv channel 211.
➤ The European Championship (Euros) gets underway on Friday night, with host nation Germany taking on Scotland.
It has been four years since Italy won the 2020 Euros against England at Wembley on penalties, but it is time to crown a new winner.
Germany will be hoping to start on winning terms when they take to the field at 9pm, with six other games happening on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday will start with Hungary taking on Switzerland at 3pm, followed by Spain battling Croatia at 6pm in what could prove to be the standout game of the weekend.
Defending champions Italy will end the night in a match against Albania at 9pm.
Sunday will start with Poland facing the Netherlands at 3pm before Slovenia takes on Denmark at 6pm.
England will then play their first game against Serbia at 9pm.
The action will continue on Monday and Tuesday, and favourites France and Portugal will both be in action.
All the Euros action will be live on DStv channel 203.
➤ The T20 Cricket World Cup continues with six matches taking place over the weekend.
The Proteas, having already qualified for the tournament’s next stage, face Nepal in a fixture that will begin at 1.30am on Saturday. New Zealand will be in action against Uganda an hour later.
India will face Canada at 4.30pm before England faces Namibia at 7pm.
Sunday will see Australia take on Scotland at 2.30am before Pakistan faces Ireland at 4.30pm.
All the action will be live on DStv channel 212.
Pictured above: Blue Bulls.
Source: Blue Bulls/X
