Latest news with #BULvSHA
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bulls bulldoze Sharks for final spot
The Vodacom Bulls booked their place in a second successive URC final after surviving three yellow cards to beat the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld last night. Jake White's charges, beaten in last season's decider by Glasgow, triumphed 25-13 in Pretoria and will face Leinster at Croke Park next week, after the Irish giants dethroned the Warriors 37-19 in Dublin earlier yesterday. The Bulls dominated the scrum battle and scoreboard, leading 15-3 despite ending the first half with 13 men. Man of the Match Sebastian de Klerk opened the scoring after Embrose Papier's electric break from just over the halfway line, with flyhalf Johan Goosen converting on his injury comeback. RECAP: Leinster to host URC final Papier hits the gas and sets up Sebastian de Klerk who finishes off in brilliant fashion! @Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA — vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) June 7, 2025 Canan Moodie extended the home side's advantage through De Klerk's pinpoint cross-kick, catching fellow Springbok speedster Makazole Mapimpi napping out wide before going over in the corner. Flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse's solitary penalty provided the Sharks' response after missing two attempts. The Bulls' discipline crumbled inside the second quarter as centre Harold Venter, No 8 Cameron Hanekom and flanker Marcell Coetzee all saw yellow. However, the hosts' defence held firm twice near their tryline as the Sharks pressed before the break. Mapimpi struck first for the visitors after the restart, exploiting a two-man overlap to go over the whitewash out wide before Hendrikse again missed the conversion. Winger Ethan Hooker's ninth try of the campaign brought the Sharks within two points, but replacement Keagan Johannes steadied Bulls nerves with a crucial penalty. He missed his second attempt before midfielder David Kriel capped off a scintillating move ignited by Papier and lock Cobus Wiese. Johannes converted to complete the scoring that ultimately secured the Bulls' third appearance in the URC showpiece in four seasons, as well as exact revenge for two league-stage defeats to the Sharks in 2024-25. However, White will be sweating over the availability of Hanekom, the URC's Next-Gen Player winner departing in the 49th minute via a golf cart after going down clutching his hamstring. The post Bulls bulldoze Sharks for final spot appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Jake White celebrates Bulls' semi-final victory over Sharks and calls for better scrum rewards
Director of rugby Jake White was a happy man after his Bulls completed a good semi-final victory over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening. Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers 'We made it hard for ourselves, but that victory was very nice.' Bulls' director of rugby, Jake White, was an elated coach after his side triumphed over the Sharks on Saturday evening at Loftus Versfeld to progress to the final of the United Rugby Championship (URC). They will face Leinster at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday where the Bulls will look to seal a first-ever URC title in their third final. The 25-13 win over the Sharks saw them claim a consecutive finals berth. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'I think we won that game in the five minutes before halftime when we had 12 men on the field,' White said after the match. The Bulls received three yellow cards and had to defend with 12 men in the dying moments of the first forty to repel the attacks of the visitors. They managed to do that and took a healthy 15-3 lead into halftime. 'It was a bit of déjà vu because we played them here and got them down to 12 men and we could not open them up. It is obviously a massive win for us as a club, and we are into another final. So, that is three finals in four years, and any club would tell you that is a massive achievement. What has just happened 😱@BlueBullsRugby score their second of the night with Canan Moodie flying into the corner 🚀@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025 'In that five minutes before halftime with 12 men, it did not look like they were going to score and that is a massive boost to the defence coach and players. I told them in the changeroom that is where we won it. Sometimes you think you win a game with a last-minute kick. 'However, it is not that, it is what you do at certain times (in the game) and we were 12 out of 10 with the way we showed attitude. I say it confidently. I sat there thinking they are not going to score here because we were really fronting up there.' White said there was a different vibe in the changeroom after they kept the Sharks out and he knows it could've been otherwise if they had let their opponents over the line for a try. Dance of the de Klerk 💃⚡ ️ Embrose Papier slices through to set up Sebastian de Klerk and open the show for the @BlueBullsRugby !@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025 He added that the atmosphere in the stadium added to their game, and he knows they made the Loftus crowd proud with their performance. White praised the efforts of scrumhalf Embrose Papier, who had a direct hand in two of the three tries, but at the same time said it's thanks to the forwards' dominance that the scrumhalf could play his natural game. The Bulls ruled the scrums in the opening exchanges, and their coach feels they could've received more rewards at times. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐓 💥@leinsterrugby and the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby battle it out to lift the @Vodacom #URC trophy 🏆 Get your tickets and we'll see you at Croke Park next weekend 🫡 Pre-Sale tickets (10% off): Sunday 11am SAST General Sale tickets: Monday 11am SAST — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Bulls made to sweat by Sharks as they win through to URC final with semi-final win at Loftus Versfeld
SHARKS prop Ox Nche's efforts were not enough to the Durbanites go past the Bulls in the URC semi-final at Loftus. | ITUMELENG ENGLISH/Independent Newspapers Both Papier and De Klerk had points to prove after being left out of the 54-man Springbok squad, and they gave Rassie Erasmus something to consider. The Bulls countered magnificently. A perfect lineout saw scrumhalf Embrose Papier break through the retreating defence, and the ball went wide to wing Sebastian de Klerk, who finished slickly. The first scrums had the massive home crowd roaring as the Sharks went backward at a rapid rate of knots. From one such reverse action, the ball spilled out wide and Sharks wing Ethan Hooker scooped the ball to score, but the try was disallowed because his backline had been offside. The match kicked off in an electrifying atmosphere and the players responded in kind, with breathtaking action throughout. They beat the Sharks 25-13 in front of a rapturous crowd of 48 000 to ensure a final against Leinster in Dublin. The Sharks were valiant opponents but the Bulls showed valour on defence and efficiency on attack to fight through to the final of the United Rugby Championship. David Kriel soars over the try line as the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby go one step closer to the Grand Final ✈️ @Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA Just as the first quarter ended, it seemed as if the Sharks had weathered the storm. Their scrum settled after the initial brutal attacks, but when Jaden Hendrikse was under pressure in the Sharks' 22, he slipped when attempting a clearance kick and the ball stumbled forward to the Bulls. De Klerk kick-passed out wide to Canan Moodie, who finished neatly in the corner. Jaden's brother, Jordan, put the Sharks on the board with a well-taken penalty in the 25th minute to make it 12-3. The Sharks were revived and when the Bulls lost a lineout, Makazole Mapimpi made a strong thrust up field and, in the tackle, Harold Vorster did not release him. The Bulls centre was yellow carded, but Hendrikse missed the shot at goal to let the Bulls off the hook. With five minutes to go in the half, the Bulls' scrum picked up their intensity and a penalty won was converted into three points by Goosen. At 15-3 with halftime looming, the Sharks were in trouble. But once more the Bulls made life difficult for themselves when Cameron Hanekom tip-tackled opposite number Siya Kolisi. He was sin-binned but, interestingly, the Sharks spurned the easy three points and kicked to the corner. They were repelled and Vorster earned his team a penalty at a breakdown. It proved to be an injudicious decision to squander the three points. The Sharks continued their pressure as halftime approached and again won a penalty in front of the posts. Once more they chose the corner instead of the points, and this time the pressure resulted in veteran Marcell Coetzee received a yellow card for pulling down the maul This was in the 40th minute and he joined Hanekom in the naughty corner. Somehow the Bulls survived the siege on the line and went to the change rooms 15-3 in front. The Sharks continued their assault and five minutes into the half, Mapimpi accelerated to the corner after a series of phases from a lineout. Hendrikse missed the conversion to leave it at 15-8 to the Bulls. Sadly, in the 28th minute URC Next Gen Player of the year, Hanekom was carted off the field with what looked to be a serious knee injury. It was all Sharks in the third quarter and they were rewarded for their relentless pressure when space was found for Hooker out wide, and he finished superbly. Jaden Hendrikse took over the kicking duties from his brother, but missed the conversion to leave the Bulls 15-13 in front. This hurt all the more for the Durbanites when Keegan Johannes nailed a pressure penalty with his team's first meaningful possession of the half to make it 18-13. The Bulls had taken a lot of punishment, and they upped their tempo, with outside David Kriel finishing a movement started by Papier. At 25-13 with ten minutes to go, that was the ball game. Scorers Bulls — Tries: Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, David Kriel. Conversions: Johan Goosen, Keegan Johannes. Penalties: Goosen, Johannes. Sharks — Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Ethan Hooker. Penalties: Jordan Hendrikse.
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Sharks suffer Eben Etzebeth blow for crunch Bulls URC clash
The Sharks will go into battle without their Springbok talisman Eben Etzebeth in their second row for Saturday's United Rugby Championship semifinal against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. Etzebeth was a training field casualty this week and his place goes to Corne Rahl who will partner Emile van Heerden. Though Rahl brings energy and vitality, Etzebeth's absence is a huge blow to the Sharks who will hope to match and even top the Bulls' physicality on their home patch. Etzebeth is not the only high-profile absentee from the Sharks team, as fellow Boks Grant Williams, Jason Jenkins and Trevor Nyakane are also on the casualty list. There is the wide belief that the Sharks will need all their Bok hands on deck to meet success at Loftus Versfeld but the reality is they have learnt to roll with the punches against the Bulls this season. Last December, the Sharks prevailed 20-17 over the Bulls in Durban, while their February clash in Pretoria ended 29-19 in favour of the visitors. As resourceful as the Bulls have been to win their last seven URC clashes, they earlier in the season struggled to match the Sharks who can seamlessly switch through the gears and play at a higher tempo. 🔥 Your Hollywoodbets Sharks team for tomorrow's semi - final! 🔥 @Vodacom #URC #BULvSHA — The Sharks (@SharksRugby) June 6, 2025 That area of the Sharks' game makes them a particularly difficult adversary playing on Loftus Versfeld's harder surface. The Sharks, in the URC and Currie Cup, have averaged about 30 points across their last eight games at Loftus. And while the Sharks have won admirers for their transitional play and devastating exploration of the wide open spaces, it is their ability to stand their ground in the scrum that could in large part determine their destiny in the capital. The Bulls, mostly through their immovable tight head Wilco Louw, have emasculated opposing scrums this season and the presence of an all-Springbok Sharks front row will likely draw more snort and grunt from the hosts. The Bulls' 60 scrum penalties is the highest tally in the competition and they boast a success rate of 94% on their feeds in this campaign, while the Sharks have a success rate on their ball of 89%. The Sharks have committed 45 scrum offences this season, while the Bulls have fallen on the wrong side of the referee 31 times. Though both teams have found ways to win tight matches this season, both will lament their inability to maintain focus and intensity across 80 minutes. The Sharks in particular have displayed Jekyll and Hyde characteristics which have seen them fall short of their potential. This weekend's captain Siya Kolisi is all too aware of their shortcomings. 'The most important thing is finding a way to win when things aren't going well. I've been in a team where we played amazing rugby and we still lost. You can have that, or you can have what we're going through. But the ultimate goal is to play the kind of rugby we know we're capable of playing.' Bulls coach Jake White made only one change to his starting line-up that defeated Edinburgh last weekend by recalling Springbok flyhalf Johan Goosen, which means Keagan Johannes is now on the replacements' bench. Sharks Team: Aphelele Fassi; Ethan Hooker, Lukhanyo Am, André Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Siya Kolisi (captain), Vincent Tshituka, James Venter; Emile van Heerden, Corne Rahl; Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Substitutes: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Deon Slabbert, Phepsi Buthelezi; Bradley Davids, Jurenzo Julius, Yaw Penxe Bulls Team: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (Captain), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White, Adam Jones. Kickoff: 6.15pm
