Don’t look now, but here come the Vodacom Bulls.

After looking like one of the most disappointing teams in club rugby — and riding a seven-match losing streak — the Bulls have won back-to-back matches away from South Africa. In doing so, the Bulls qualified for the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 after beating Pau, then climbed back into the United Rugby Championship race with a road win in Edinburgh, Scotland, in Round 10.

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And now, they are heading back to the summer lands of South Africa to face one of the URC’s best stories.

The Emirates Lions are 4-1-4 this season and sit seventh on the table as they try to qualify for their first Investec Champions Cup. The Johannesburg-based club beat the Bulls 43-33 in November in Pretoria — just its 13th win all-time against the Bulls.

The Lions had lost four in a row to the Bulls entering that match. The last time they beat the Bulls in back-to-back meetings? The Lions once won four straight against the Bulls from 2016-2018, but they have won only twice since then.

The Lions enter the Jukskei Derby match with momentum after back-to-back draws that followed back-to-back wins.

The backdrop of this South African derby — and a suddenly surging Bulls side — is why the Lions’ matchup earns match-of-the-week honors at FloRugby. The 7:30 a.m. ET kickoff on Jan. 31 starts the day’s action in a URC round expected to feature many rotated squads as the Six Nations approaches next month.

It’s time for the South African clubs to take advantage and pick up wins.

Here’s what to know about the FloRugby Match of the Week:

Lions vs. Bulls Stakes

A high-stakes Jukskei derby in Johannesburg sees the Emirates Lions host the Vodacom Bulls. It’s their second meeting of the URC season – the Lions upset the Bulls 43-33 in Pretoria in November – adding extra spice to this local rivalry.

Team Form: The Bulls have turned their season around after a horror run of defeats, entering this clash on the back of two straight wins and renewed belief. The Lions sit seventh on the log after consecutive draws and will be determined to return to winning ways at home.

Head-To-Head History: The Bulls have never lost to the Lions at Ellis Park in URC play, winning all four encounters there by comfortable margins (outscoring the Lions 125-57 overall). However, the Lions won the most recent meeting between the sides 43-33 in Pretoria earlier this season.

Key Players: The Bulls welcome back key Springboks – for example, wing Canan Moodie (returning from concussion) and fly-half Handré Pollard – adding experience and firepower. The Lions will rely on captain Francke Horn’s leadership and work rate to set the tone at home.

Who's Favored? A tight contest is anticipated. The Bulls’ momentum and Ellis Park pedigree make them slight favorites (bookmakers handicap around four points), but the Lions’ home advantage and resilience ensure a fiercely competitive encounter that could go either way.

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