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The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
URC quarter-final: Six Edinburgh players the Bulls should watch out for
Several players will stand out as Edinburgh unleash their full strength chasing a maiden win at Loftus. Edinburgh's Darcy Graham scored three tries against Ulster in their last game, on 16 May. Picture: Calum Chittleburgh/SNS Group via Getty Images The Bulls have set up another exciting quarter-final against Edinburgh after going down against them in the Challenge Cup last month. The teams clash at Loftus this time, and in the United Rugby Championship, after they finished second and seventh on the table, respectively. Historically, the Bulls have won both of their home games against the Scottish side, while Edinburgh have won all three of theirs. But anything can happen in a knockout. Here are six of the biggest individual threats the Bulls will face in their game against Edinburgh on Saturday, at 1.30pm. Darcy Graham The nimble-footed winger has dazzled on the pitch this season. He has 21 clean breaks to his name, just two behind the leader, despite missing six games in the tournament. The Scottish international also has six tries to his name, the joint-best in the team, and has beaten the fourth-most defenders in the tournament (55). The flyer has gained a whopping 698 metres in the tournament, highlighting him as one of the biggest threats at Loftus. Duhan van der Merwe Another star Scottish international winger, Van der Merwe has missed half of Edinburgh's season due to injury. His form before the ankle injury in March saw him score four tries and beat 31 defenders in nine matches, also making the third-most metres for the side. He's tipped to be available soon and will want to build on that record, especially in a bid to justify his British & Irish Lions selection. Edinburgh's Duhan van der Merwe was tipped to return from injury, possibly by the end of the month. Picture: Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images Ross Thompson The team's leading points scorer with 110 points to his name (fourth in the tournament). The 26-year-old flyhalf has played all 18 URC games for Edinburgh, starting in all but two. His kicking success rate is a decent 74% as he shares goal-kicking duties with Ben Healy (35 points at 78%). But Thompson will want to improve on that as he duplicates what made him a success for Glasgow and Scotland before this season. Edinburgh's Ross Thompson kicks the ball during their URC match against the Sharks. Picture: Calum Chittleburgh/SNS Group via Getty Images Pierre Schoeman The former Bulls man has had a good season at Edinburgh, driving the scrum at loosehead prop and securing six tries in the URC. He's a go-to man in the team with 124 carries and will be tipped to lead in the set-piece and attack. He will want to show why he was picked to tour with the British and Irish Lions to Australia. Hamish Watson The English-born Scottish international has been formidable in both attack and defence at openside flanker for Edinburgh. The veteran leads the team's tackles with 177 and has made 106 carries despite missing four games. He's experienced and dependable and will be keeping things together for the Scottish side. Edinburgh's Hamish Watson will bring his experience to bear in attack and defence. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images Ben Muncaster The young, upcoming Scottish back-row player has also been good on both sides of the ball. He's earned six tries while making 161 tackles and will be a handful in attack and defence again. Will come up against a powerful Bulls loose trio and will be out to show what he's made of against a few Springbok players. Special mentions must go to South African-born Wes Goosen who hasn't scored any tries in the URC yet but gained 767 metres and beaten 39 defenders, and Matt Currie, who scored five tries and completed 11 offloads. They are threatening players who are not in quite as good form as their counterparts in the same positions, who have been mentioned.
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
SA teams turn focus to final two weeks of action in regular URC season
With the Bulls and Sharks in the top four, the Stormers up to sixth and the Lions in with an outside chance, an exciting end to the regular season awaits rugby fans. The Bulls will have second place on the URC log in their sights. Picture: Calum Chittleburgh/SNS Group via Getty Images Now for the final push. Having enjoyed a weekend off while the Champions and Challenge Cup competition semi-finals were played in Europe this last weekend, the four South African teams playing in the United Rugby Championship should be rested and ready to make the most of the final two rounds of action, which happen this weekend and next week. That is all that remains in this season's regular round of matches before the knockouts are reached. And the good news is the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers are all well positioned to finish high up on the points table, while the Lions have an outside chance of still making the top eight. Bulls and Sharks in top four The Bulls are third with 58 points, and breathing down the neck of the second-placed Glasgow Warriors, who have 59 points. This coming weekend Jake White's men face Cardiff (fifth with 46 points), while in their final league game they take on Dragons (16th with nine points), with both matches at Loftus. Two wins could see them finish second, should Glasgow, the defending champions, come unstuck against Benetton (eighth, 41 points) and Leinster (first, 67 points) in their final two games, both of which are away from home. Leinster suffered a shock Champions Cup semi-final loss at the weekend against Northampton and will now be fully focused on winning the URC this season, which will make them even tougher to beat. The Sharks, sitting fourth with 53 points, can still catch the Bulls and Glasgow if results go their way, but they are seven points clear of Cardiff in fifth so should not finish lower than their current position. But, they will need win at least one of their remaining games, against Ospreys (11th) and Scarlets (seventh), both being played in Durban. Stormers and Lions The Stormers have moved up nicely on the points table in recent weeks and find themselves in sixth place with 45 points. If things go their way they can finish fourth or fifth, but they must be aware of the teams chasing them – Scarlets in seventh have 43 points, Benetton (eighth) have 41 and Munster (ninth) have 41. But John Dobson's team face last-placed Dragons and Cardiff in their final two games at home. The Lions, in 13th place with 35 points, need to win against Scarlets and Ospreys at Ellis Park and then hope a bunch of other results go their way, for them to make the top eight.
The Citizen
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
URC state of play: Bulls, Sharks and Stormers on a roll
The only SA team who appear to be out of the quarter-finals picture are the Lions, who're down in 13th position on the log. The BUlls players had much to celebrate in their win against Glasgow Warriors at the weekend. Picture: Calum Chittleburgh / SNS Group via Getty Images With just two regular season matches remaining for all 16 teams playing in the United Rugby Championship things are looking up for the South African teams. Though the Lions, who're in 13th position on the points table with 35 points, will need a minor miracle to make it into the top eight for a place in the playoffs, the Bulls (third, 58), Sharks (fourth, 53) and Stormers (sixth, 45) are on course to feature in the quarter-finals later next month. With some luck, the Bulls could even still sneak into second place overall, to secure a home semi-final if they advance that far. All the South African teams have this weekend off because the Champions and Challenge Cup competition semi-finals take place in Europe on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And then it is back into the action in the URC. Weekend wrap The Bulls, after a hugely successful recent overseas tour, still have to face Cardiff Rugby (fifth, 46 points) and Dragons (16th, nine points), the Lions are up against Scarlets (seventh, 49) and Ospreys (11th, 38), the Sharks entertain Ospreys and Scarlets, while the Stormers welcome Dragons and Cardiff to Cape Town. In last weekend's action, the Bulls got their revenge over last season's champions, Glasgow Warriors, who beat the Pretoria side in the final at Loftus, by winning 26-19 in Scotland. It followed the previous week's win against Munster (16-13), leaving coach Jake White to say, 'Four weeks away from home – it is just something that shows resilience,' the Bulls coach said. 'That's what coaches want, they want players to take a step up. If we're going to win this competition, we're going to have to beat big sides away from home.' He added: 'Are we a good team? Yes. Can we win games if we're all on song? Yes.' Lions keep slim hopes alive The Stormers, who've beaten Connacht (34-29) and Benetton (56-5) in the last two weeks, are now in the top five and on course to potentially face the Sharks in a quarter-final. John Plumtree's Sharks beat Edinburgh (18-17) and Ulster (22-19) in the last fortnight to solidify their place in the top four. And while the Lions lost to Benetton 10 days ago, they beat Connacht 26-7 this last weekend to snap a five-game losing streak and keep alive their slim chances of finishing in the top eight.
The Citizen
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
‘I can only be proud': Bulls satisfied with three wins on tough tour
The Bulls became the first team to beat Bayonne at home this season, the first South African side to win at Munster, and just the second to triumph in Glasgow. The Bulls wrapped up their month-long tour with a win against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium. Picture: Calum Chittleburgh/SNS Group via Getty Images The coach and captain of the Bulls have expressed satisfaction after a successful tour in Europe, beating three out of four top teams and making history along the way. The Bulls were the first side to beat Bayonne at home this season, winning 32–22. Then they narrowly lost 34–28 to Edinburgh in Scotland in the Challenge Cup quarter final, before becoming the first South African side to beat Munster at their home ground (final score 16–13). The Bulls followed that up on Friday with a 26–19 win against defending champions Glasgow Warriors, becoming only the second South African team to win at Scotstoun after the Cheetahs did it in 2019. The Bulls return home for a week off before hosting their last United Rugby Championship league matches against Cardiff and Dragons before the tournament play-offs. Bulls wrap up tour in 'outstanding' fashion 'It takes a massive effort, especially because it was away from home,' Bulls coach Jake White said. 'I'm just very happy that in a short week we have been able to replicate what we did last week and that was to show a lot of heart. Defensively, we were outstanding last week and this week. 'All I can say is it's a very good way to finish the tour because now we go back and we have two home games. Destiny is now in our hands, which is fantastic.' He said being on tour away from their families for so long and playing against tough opposition in different conditions, plus playing against Edinburgh and Glasgow on unfamiliar artificial pitches, had been tough on the players. 'I can only be proud of that performance because it now sets us up nicely for when we get home and we can really prepare properly for the back-end of the competition.' Captain highlights team cohesion after month away from home Bulls captain Ruan Nortje also said he was proud of the team after rectifying the mistakes they made against Munster. 'I think for us coming here today was all about… rectifying what we did last week and coming into this game with the same intent, especially on our fourth week on tour,' Nortje said. 'It was very special to see how the guys stuck together. It's really a massive boost for us for the last part of the season.' While the Bulls did not overtake Glasgow on the log due to the Scottish side securing a losing bonus point, they have closed the gap for second place to just one point, while pulling nine points ahead of the Sharks in fourth place.
