A full eight-game slate takes place this weekend in the United Rugby Championship with four more 'North v South' encounters on offer as Dragons, Edinburgh, Ospreys and Ulster begin their two-week tours to South Africa.
With four wins from four last weekend for the South African sides, the Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls now sit in the top eight of the URC table.
With eight wins across the past two weekends the South African teams now edge the ‘North’ with 14 wins to 13 (1 draw) in this season’s cross-hemisphere fixtures.
There is also an Irish derby in Round 14 as league leaders Leinster travel to Connacht needing to win to keep their noses in front of Ulster while Munster welcome Benetton to Musgrave Park as the Cork venue hosts its first league game since February 2020.
In Italy, Zebre Parma are back on home soil where they will face Scarlets while leaders of the Scottish-Italian Shield, Glasgow Warriors, go to the Arms Park in Cardiff needing victory to maintain their hold on third position.
SAT - Vodacom Bulls v Dragons Loftus - Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA
Live on: SuperSport, S4C Premier Sports & URC TV.
Officials:
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 58th competition game) Assistant: Marius van der Westhuizen, Morne Ferreira (both SARU) TMO: Ben Blain (SRU)
Overall URC head-to-head record:
Played 0
Did you know?
- Vodacom Bulls only loss in their last six United Rugby Championship matches was 22-29 at home to Cell C Sharks on 12 February.
- The Bulls only other defeat at Loftus Versfeld in the United Rugby Championship was to the Stormers on 22 January.
- Bulls have won both previous matches they have played against Welsh regions this season.
- Dragons only win so far this season was 35-22 over Connacht in Galway on 9 October.
- The Welshmen’s record against South African opponents in the Championship is won three, drawn one, lost four.
- Dragons have played three previous matches in South Africa, losing two and drawing one (18-all against Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth in April 2019.
- The two clubs have never met before.
