Boan Winter, a forward for the Springboks, is preparing for his first Highveld derby as the Lions meet the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC) match in Pretoria on Saturday at 13:30. Winter's return to South Africa was motivated by what he learned and achieved in Scotland, and early signs suggest that his experience significantly strengthens an already formidable team.
Winter, who is 29 years old, will face a Highveld derby for the first time during the Lions vs. Bulls clash. The Lions are ranked third out of 16 teams after victories over Leinster and Ospreys. Winter believes that the Lions' powerful attacking line should demonstrate another strong performance against the Bulls, who are known for their physical strength and ball retention.
Derby in Jo'burg
Winter noted that this derby has a more personal character. He stated: 'It is definitely a bit more personal. We know all the guys personally on the Jo'burg side, you know everyone by name, and we are good friends with some of them. It is a completely different challenge compared to our first two games, but there is a good atmosphere in the camp.'
The Bulls returned to Pretoria after an overseas tour where they defeated Zebre and suffered a narrow loss to Munster, which makes it difficult to assess their form definitively. Winter admitted the difficulty of assessing the Bulls after only two matches, adding that they have also started well, and their ball retention remains strong, as always. He emphasized: 'They are physically strong, and that is what they have been known for these past few years. We know what to expect, and we need to meet fire with fire to see who wins.'
Winter is perfectly prepared for this challenge. A native of Kimberley, he began his top-level career with the Cheetahs before moving to Edinburgh in 2021. There, he spent five seasons, establishing himself as one of the most respected forwards in the United Rugby Championship. Between 2021 and 2026, he played 108 matches for the Scottish club, scoring an impressive 18 tries.
He was on the verge of selection for the Scotland squad before Rassie Erasmus intervened. Winter's name is actually Abram, and it was Erasmus who secured his international future in South Africa, selecting this 1.87m, 125kg forward for the match against Georgia in Mbombela in July 2025. Winter debuted for the Springboks by scoring a touchdown and has since earned seven caps in the series.
In December 2025, it was confirmed that he signed a three-year contract with the Lions, which began on July 1st of this year. His return to South Africa also gave him the opportunity to pass on the knowledge gained at the highest level, including participation in the Greatest Rivalry in rugby when he was part of the Springbok squad in the epic series against the All Blacks. He commented: 'The experience in the Boks is just another class. I think the experience you gain just by facing guys in the Springbok camp gives you a lot of experience and teaches many lessons. It is great to be able to bring that here to the Lions and work with young guys and keep learning to move forward.'
Winter's debut for the Lions against the All Blacks reinforced his belief in the importance of executing fundamentals correctly. For the Lions' line, which started the URC season impressively, this means ensuring that ball retention remains the foundation of their game when facing the Bulls. Winter concluded: 'Ball retention plays a huge role, as you saw in the Greatest Rivalry with the Boks. If you do it right, everything else becomes much easier.'