Although the Stormers are setting the pace at the top of the United Rugby Championship (URC) table, Evan Roos is wary of their next challenge against the Bulls this weekend.<\/b><\/p>\n
Two of the heavyweights of the South African game will go head-to-head in their derby in Cape Town on Saturday and although the Stormers head into the encounter as overwhelming favourites, Roos is not underestimating the men from Pretoria.<\/p>\n
Stormers in fine form<\/p>\n
The Stormers<\/a> have won all seven of their previous URC<\/a> matches this season and have amassed 32 points in the standings \u2013 two more than their closest rivals Munster, who have played one match more than the men from the Cape.<\/p>\n By contrast, the Bulls<\/a> have found the going tough during the 2025\/26 campaign as they are currently on a five-match losing streak in all competitions and are languishing in 10th position in the URC table.<\/p>\n Despite the Bulls\u2019 poor form, Roos<\/a> is not underestimating the Stormers\u2019 arch-rivals and expects a big onslaught from Johan Ackermann\u2019s charges.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery team wants to do as well as they can in the URC,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we stuck to what we wanted to do and did it well and the results have paid off so far.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s now just up to us to keep on driving our own standards and trying to be better every game.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the two sides have experienced contrasting fortunes this season, the 25-year-old believes that any derby brings out the best in the players.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be physical, obviously,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a north-south derby and South African players are always up for it.<\/p>\n SA Rugby make significant announcement in wake of Bulls backlash after Johan Ackermann forced to defend Springboks involvement<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe guys always step up in an amazing way when these two sides play against each other.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m happy to be part of it\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re excited, it\u2019s going to be awesome and I\u2019m happy to be part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite being one of the Stormers\u2019 best players in recent seasons, Roos has had little game-time at Test level for the Springboks<\/a> and only made one appearance for the world champions in 2025.<\/p>\n That was off the bench during South Africa\u2019s 45-0 demolition of Italy in Gqeberha.<\/p>\n Roos could face potential Springboks rivals like Bulls stalwarts Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw in Saturday\u2019s derby in Cape Town but said he will not be focusing on trying to prove a point to Boks boss Rassie Erasmus in this eagerly anticipated URC fixture.<\/p>\n \u201cThose things [individual head-to-heads] don\u2019t get me up,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you go into a match with that kind of mentality, then it\u2019s actually quite a selfish thing to do.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, personally, I just want to do what the team requires of me this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n