Five Springboks players could strengthen the Bulls ahead of the derby against the Lions in the URC

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen stated that his team will have to significantly raise their level of play when they meet the Bulls in the upcoming Saturday derby at Loftus Versfeld.

Lions secured their second consecutive win in the URC, defeating Osprey 35-19 at Ellis Park stadium on Saturday. This victory followed a dramatic win against defending champions Leinster with a score of 27-26 in the first round.

Nevertheless, van Rooyen did not want the team to relax after overcoming a poor first half and scoring five points after the break. He emphasized: 'Today's game will be insufficient against the Bulls next week. It is a typical derby, so having tactical preparation and high physical power will be of huge importance.'

He added that the Bulls showed a desire to play more actively, which makes them dangerous, but there are also opportunities for the Lions.

In the first half, the Lions trailed Osprey 12-10, but then they reacted decisively. The forwards took control of the match, which helped change the tide in their favor. Captain Frankie Horn noted that the players decided during the break that they needed to 'roll up their sleeves' and succeed against Osprey.

Horn said: 'We went into the break and said: 'Listen, we aren't able to attack down the flanks today,' and sometimes that happens. The forwards said we need to roll up our sleeves and secure maul tries. If we have to go into scrum, penalty, kick out, maul, penalty, kick out again, and then score from the maul, we will do it. And that's how we started the second half.'

Van Rooyen was particularly pleased with how his players adapted after an disorganized first forty minutes. He noted: 'Osprey is a strong team, they are very tough, they have great character, and they will keep coming back and pushing forward if you are inaccurate. We were not accurate enough. We lost some early out lines, and then it's impossible to gain momentum and execute our plans.'

He continued: 'At halftime, we really simplified the task and just said: 'Find a way.' We believe there is a small gap, let's go there and see if we can use it. The second half was much better, and I am very proud of the guys for finding a way.'

'The Lions can draw confidence from their victory over the Bulls in Pretoria last season with a score of 43-33, but van Rooyen expects a completely different challenge this time. He explained: 'Last year, when we played there, it was part of their transition period. I think this year everything will be very different. They have real speed on the flanks, they have a good pack of forwards, and power up front. I think it will be a completely different test.'

He concluded: 'There is one or two things we can take from past experience, but we won't be blind to the fact that this is a new week, a new opportunity, and a different game.'

Furthermore, the Lions may have two returning Springboks players in the starting lineup—midfielder Morne van den Berg and versatile back-rower Juan Horn, both of whom participated in the second half against Osprey. Van Rooyen said he would not be surprised if both feature in the starting fifteen against the Bulls.

These returns create healthy competition for spots in the team, especially after Boeta Chamberlain and Nico Steyn impressed in the first two Lions matches. Van Rooyen noted: 'I think Boeta has been a breath of fresh air for us; I think he was exceptional in two games, and he can play several positions for us. Nico is probably playing the best game of his life too, so that's good, healthy competition for us.'

Despite the Lions starting the campaign perfectly, earning nine points in the first two matches, van Rooyen knows that the next match will show much more about his team's standing. He repeated: 'Accuracy will be of huge importance. It is a typical derby, so tactical preparation and high physical power will be of huge importance. We will take five points, but we must improve because next week will demand it.'

The Lions team is bringing two Springboks players, Morne van den Bergh and Juan Horne, back into the squad for the second round of the United Rugby Championship against Ospreys, which will take place at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Both players participated in last week's Mandela Challenge Plate match against Australia in Perth and are included in the Lions' bench. Coach Ivan van Riezen made several changes to his starting lineup of 23 players after the team's triumph over defending champions Leinster with a score of 27:26 at Ellis Park last week.

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

There was a reshuffle in the second row trio: Ciba Coma replaced Batho Hlekani, and Jacy Pretorius took the position at number 6. Ciba Mashashe moved to the bench. Henko van Wyk is unavailable due to a head injury sustained early in the victory over Leinster, so Ethan Adams replaced him in the starting fifteen.

Lions defensive coordinator, Jake Fury, believes the team still has much to improve despite the impressive first-round win. The former Springbok lock stated: 'We still had a lot of work to do after last Saturday's match against Leinster. We needed to reset because we know Ospreys will present a different challenge, but we had a good preparation week, and we are happy with what lies ahead.'

Ospreys coach Mark Jones expects the Welsh side to demonstrate physical power again, as they heavily pressured the Sharks in their debut match. Fury noted: 'Ospreys are a tough team, whether you play them at home or away. They have a large group of forwards; they work well in mauls and scrums. Against the Sharks, we saw how this aspect of their game improved. They never give up; they play 80 minutes, so we need to be clinical and put pressure on them with both the ball and without it.'

The match start time at Ellis Park is scheduled for 13:45. The Lions' declared players are: Boeta Chamberlain (15), Kelly Mpeku (14), Ethan Adams (13), Richard Kriel (12), Erich Kroonje (11), Chris Smith (10), Nico Stein (9), Boan Winter (1), P.J. Botha (2), Sebastian Lombard (3), Etienne Oosthuizen (4), Ruan Delport (5), Jacy Pretorius (6), Ciba Coma (7), Franke Horn (8, captain). Reserves: Morne Brandon (16), S.J. Kotze (17), R.F. Schuman (18), Hyron Andrews (19), Dylan Schoblom (20), Ciba Mashashe (21), Morne van den Bergh (22), Juan Horne (23).

Following limited participation in the 2026 matches, fullback Afelele FASSI is one of the Springboks players hoping to receive more minutes on the field during the game against Australia on Sunday.

After four intense matches against the All Blacks, the Springboks will face a completely different challenge against Australia in Perth in a single friendly match on Sunday. Since head coach Rassie Erasmus is expected to rotate the squad when it is announced on Tuesday for the match at Optus Stadium (starting at 11:45 South African time), this could open doors for several reserve players to gain valuable experience after limited or no time in the greatest rugby rivalry.

IOL Sport has looked at five Springboks players who will aim to impress if given more playing time against the Wallabies.

Players who could get more time

Handre Pollard is likely the most obvious candidate. He faced the All Blacks but missed all four matches due to a calf injury. He was fit and arrived in Baltimore for the final match but was not selected because Erasmus adhered to a tactic that worked in the previous two games.

A significant series of games against Australia will help him regain his rhythm at the Test level and remind everyone of his importance to the Bok squad. He has demonstrated that he is still capable of contributing to the national team.

Cameron Hanekom, a forward from the Bulls, immediately made an impression in limited opportunities against New Zealand, but improved his game with each game. His last two matches can be considered his best for the team. As veteran versatile forward Pieter-Steph du Toit plans to rest, Hanekom could get a much bigger opportunity to show what he can offer with his physical strength and work rate from the first whistle. He will strive to maintain the form he showed against the second-ranked team.

Mani Libbok, who was mainly used as an impact player during the four-match series, could benefit from more sustained time on the field in Perth. The start would give him more time to influence the game and demonstrate the attacking qualities that make him such an intriguing option at number 10. Every time he came on, the Boks' attack changed. He made almost no mistakes this season, and if the world champions decide to play running rugby, Libbok could be the man who makes the backline move. His kicks from both feet and ball distribution were valuable assets.

Morne van der Merwe gradually increased his involvement against the Kiwis and started the last match in Baltimore. As competition for the midfield position intensifies, another extended spell against Australia could give him a chance to build on this momentum and strengthen his case for more minutes in Test matches. He outperformed the more experienced Kama Roigard, and this gives the relatively inexperienced No. 9 a lot of confidence. Van der Merwe proved himself when the Boks needed him, and he should be given another starting chance.

Afelele FASSI could also benefit from returning to the starting lineup after his absence against New Zealand. With the load management in the Boks' backline, Perth provides the fullback with another opportunity to remind Erasmus of his ability and versatility. After injuries, he needs more minutes to regain confidence. The fullback helped South Africa defeat Argentina and demonstrated his stability under high ball and in attack. However, if given a chance, he will view this match against the Wallabies as an opportunity to improve his performance.

Projected Springbok Squad

The squad includes: 15 Afelele FASSI, 14 Kanan Moody, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Handre Pollard, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Mani Libbok, 9 Morne van der Merwe, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Cameron Hanekom, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Roan Northe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenkamp.