Match Preview: Vodacom Bulls

• 15 October 2021
• Previews

​Get the latest ahead of Saturday's United Rugby Championship Round 4 match against Vodacom Bulls at DAM Health Stadium (kick-off 5.15pm) with this week's Match Preview.

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GET YOUR TICKETS

Tickets are still available for this weekend's Vodacom Bulls match. Secure your place at the DAM Health Stadium and don't miss out on a massive night of URC action!

HOW TO WATCH

The match is live on Premier Sports 1 from 5pm ahead of a 5.15pm kick-off at DAM Health Stadium.

You can can also keep up with minute-by-minute updates via the Galbraith Match Centre.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 77th competition game)

Assistant: Ben Blain, Graeme Ormiston (both SRU)

TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

TEAM NEWS

Scotland international centre Mark Bennett returns to Edinburgh Rugby’s starting XV as one of five changes named by Head Coach Mike Blair for tomorrow's United Rugby Championship clash with Vodacom Bulls.

Bennett’s inclusion in the starting line-up sees James Lang move to inside centre, as winger Damien Hoyland and scrum-half Charlie Shiel are both named starters, with Ramiro Moyano injured and Ben Vellacott rotated to the bench.

The remaining changes are made to the pack as club centurion and captain Stuart McInally returns at hooker, while Magnus Bradbury replaces the rested Jamie Ritchie at blindside flanker.

OVERALL URC RECORD

This is the first-ever meeting between the two sides.

STORY OF THE MATCH

Edinburgh Rugby host Vodacom Bulls in Round 4 of the United Rugby Championship in the first-ever meeting between the two sides.

The Vodacom Bulls go into their maiden meeting with a Scottish opponent fresh from picking up their first URC victory at Cardiff over the weekend.

Edinburgh, meanwhile, are hosting South African opposition for the second weekend running, having been held to a 20-20 draw by the Stormers on Saturday.

Edinburgh had won all four of their previous home matches against South African sides prior to the Round 3 clash.

The capital club have two players among the six currently tied for top try scorer in the URC, with Darcy Graham and Ben Vellacott having touched down on three occasions.

TEAM COMPARISON

KEY STATS

Edinburgh Rugby have won just one of their last seven United Rugby Championship matches: 26-22 in the inaugural match at their new venue against Scarlets in Round 1, a sequence which also includes two draws.

Edinburgh have played five previous fixtures at home to South African opponents, winning four and drawing 20-all against Stormers on Saturday.

Vodacom Bulls opened their winning account on Saturday in the United Rugby Championship with a 29-19 victory at Cardiff- their first victory outside of South Africa since beating Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby in May 2019.

The two sides have never met before whilst this is the Bulls first ever meeting against a Scottish opponent.