The Vodacom Bulls have an opportunity to grab first place in Round 8 of the Currie Cup when they host Western Province in a north-south derby on Wednesday.

The two-time defending Currie Cup champions are currently second on the table, having won five of their six fixtures under Gert Smal this season. After losing to the Cheetahs in the first weekend of February, the Bulls are on a three-game winning run, the latest being a bonus-point win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

By contrast, a youthful Western Province team coached by Jerome Paarwater has struggled for consistency and results this season, winning only one of their six fixtures. They will be looking to get their campaign back on track after a tough 37-11 loss to the Pumas in Cape Town, which has left them just five points ahead of the winless Lions on the table.

As the first-placed Cheetahs currently have a bye this week, the Bulls can climb to the top of the table by getting just two points out of their fixture against WP. This match is one of two north-south derbies on this week’s schedule as the Stormers and Bulls are set to face off in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

In the other two Currie Cup fixtures on Wednesday, the Sharks will be looking to bounce back from two successive losses against the high-flying Griquas in Kimberley, while the Lions will hope to get their first win of the season when they travel to Nelspruit to take on the Pumas.

Fixtures:
Pumas vs Lions, 3:30pm
Griquas vs Sharks, 5:45pm
Bulls vs Western Province, 8pm

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