The Bulls have yet to win in six matches this season and it isn't going to change at Kings Park tomorrow. While the Sharks have also been relatively poor, they have the more experienced and settled side and should cover with ease.
Key Stats - Bulls Yet to Win
- Sharks XV have won 2 and drawn 1 of their last 6 matches.
- Sharks XV and the Lions played to a dramatic 22-22 draw in their previous match.
- Sharks XV have won 2 and drawn 1 of the last 5 meetings against the Blue Bulls.
- Blue Bulls have lost their last 6 matches.
- Blue Bulls lost 50-26 to the Stormers XXIII in their previous match.
Level in Last Five
The Sharks and Bulls are level at 2-2 in their last five encounters with one draw.
Unbeaten in Three of their last Six
The Sharks XV and the Fidelity ADT Lions played to a dramatic 22-22 draw in their Currie Cup match at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. The Sharks XV went down 10–5 after a try and a penalty by the Lions cancelled out an early Sharks XV try.
The Sharks XV fought back after the break, with tries from Liam van Wyk and Christie Grobbelaar giving them a 17–10 lead before the Lions hit back with a try.
Meno Barnard scored in the 76th minute to put the Sharks XV ahead 22–17. However, after the final hooter, the Lions fullback broke through to score a dramatic equaliser.
The Sharks XV have had an indifferent run of form this campaign, having won two and drawn one of their last six matches. They beat the Pumas (26-24), lost to the Cheetahs (43-21) and Stormers XXIII (36-28), beat Boland (19-12), lost to Griquas (55-21), and drew with the Lions (22-22).
The Sharks XV sit seventh in the Currie Cup table with 13 points after six matches, having won two, drawn one and lost three of their matches.
Sharks XV Starting Lineup
Starting XV: 1 Rambo Kubheka, 2 Liam van Wyk, 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 4 Johan Momsen, 5 Deon Slabbert, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 7 Meno Barnard, 8 Hanu Pieterse, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Tim Swiel, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 12 Janco Purchase, 13 Lyle Matthews, 14 Christie Grobbelaar, 15 Luan Giliomee.
Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Jaco du Toit, 18 Dian Heunis, 19 Danilo Botha, 20 Wasi Vyambwera, 21 Juan Loots, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Albie Bester.
Young Blue Bulls to Continue Struggling
The Blue Bulls lost 50-26 to the Stormers XXIII in their previous Currie Cup match at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, after trailing 33-7 at halftime.
Try-scorers were Siphosethu Mnebelele, Demitre Erasmus, Jon Hobson and Kebotile Maake, while Keagan Johannes added three conversions.
The Blue Bulls have been poor this season, losing their last six matches. They lost to Boland (24-10), Griquas (50-26), the Lions (42-19), Pumas (33-31), Cheetahs (62-52) and the Stormers XXIII (50-26).
The Blue Bulls sit bottom in the Currie Cup table, with five points after six matches, having lost all six.
Blue Bulls Starting Lineup
Starting XV: 1 Sandi Msengana, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 3 Arno Gustafson, 4 Johnathan Eloff, 5 Heinrich Theron, 6 Kebotile Maake, 7 Cephas van Biljon, 8 Chinedu Amadi, 9 Keagan Johannes, 10 Ian van der Merwe, 11 Riyaad Bam, 12 Christiaan Vlok, 13 Marnus Rademeyer, 14 Ruan Enslin, 15 Akahluwa Boqwana.
Replacements: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Damian Baker, 18 Duwan Potgieter, 19 Jacques Swarts, 20 Abongile Nonkontwana, 21 Dieter Schubert, 22 Brooklyn Newman, 23 Lavela Pongolo.