Lions v Bulls: Players prepare for 'personal' Trans-Jukskei derby

Last season, the Lions suffered back-to-back defeats against their northern rivals. But Ballers on a Budget have continued to punch above their weight this season, playing with attacking flair. Ivan van Rooyen's charges are fresh off a 60-10 mauling of the Dragons in their Challenge Cup encounter this past weekend and are eager to ride the wave of momentum.

"It's massive for us players," Lions scrumhalf Morne van den Berg told the press.

"It's fellow South Africans, it's guys that you know very well and guys that you play a lot against and it is personal.

"It's the games that you want to play in. It's the games that you want to do good in and I think it is exciting for the public as well.

"There will definitely be extra energy and bigger collisions. The coaches don't have to say anything.

In the URC, the teams last met in February 2024, where the Bulls won 25-10 in front of the Ellis Park faithful. Van den Berg is adamant they have taken lessons from that loss.

"It's been a while since we've got a chance to correct that performance," he continued.

"It's not necessarily the result, but how we played that day. We've had some good learnings and we know what to expect and nothing needs to be said."

Further up the N1, the Bulls took out their frustrations at being bundled out of the Champions Cup with a 48-7 win over Stade Francais on Saturday. The Pretoria franchise is well placed on the URC table, currently sitting in fourth with two games in hand over the teams ahead of them.

However, veteran loose forward Marcell Coetzee is under no illusions as to the challenge that awaits his teammates at Ellis Park.

"It is never easy travelling over the Jukskei to Ellis Park," said the former Springbok.

"The Lions have grown as a squad and are a full 80-minute team. It is 'respect' that comes to mind,"

"You want to be top of the [South African] conference and that adds spice and fuel to this game. However, this weekend it is about the top prize, so it will be lethal."

"We are excited after the good win at the weekend. We want to continue that form and continuity."

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