Latest news with #EmbrosePapier
The South African
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Bulls down Sharks to book URC final date with Leinster
The Bulls and Leinster will face off in the URC Grand Final at Croke Park next week in a battle between raw power and polished precision. First half recap: Bulls start strong The Bulls stormed out of the gates at Loftus Versfeld, taking early control of the semi-final with sharp attacking execution. Sebastian de Klerk crossed in the seventh minute after a break from Embrose Papier, before Canan Moodie latched onto a cross-kick to make it 12-0. While Jordan Hendrikse got the Sharks on the board with a penalty, discipline issues plagued both sides. Harold Vorster received the first of three Bulls yellow cards, but Johan Goosen extended the lead to 15-3 with a penalty before halftime. The half closed in chaos as the Bulls were twice reduced to 13 men, first with Cameron Hanekom's dangerous tackle and then a yellow card for Marcell Coetzee. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Bulls' defence held firm, repelling multiple Sharks attacks inside their 22. Missed goal kicks and handling errors cost the Durban side dearly, as they failed to capitalise on their dominance in territory and possession. Second half recap: Sharks find their bite, but Bulls hold on The Sharks found a spark after the break, finally making their numbers count. Makazole Mapimpi scored four minutes into the second half, followed soon after by Ethan Hooker, closing the gap to just two points at 15-13. But missed conversions from both tries continued to hurt their chances, as pressure mounted in front of the 47,000-strong Loftus crowd. The Bulls regained their composure, with Keagan Johannes slotting a penalty to create breathing room. Their third and final try came through David Kriel, capping a slick move that began with a Papier break and ended with Cobus Wiese's pass out wide. At 25-13, the Bulls shut the door on any Sharks comeback and booked their place in the Vodacom URC Grand Final for the third time in four seasons. The Bulls will take on Leinster in the 2025 URC Grand Final at Dublin's iconic Croke Park on Saturday. It will be the first final hosted outside South Africa, since the inception of the tournament in its current form. It's a showdown between the tournament's top two seeds, with the Bulls chasing their first title and Leinster looking to end their recent playoff drought. The Pretoria side arrives battle-tested after a gritty semi-final win over the Sharks, while Leinster were clinical in dispatching Glasgow. With contrasting styles and a title on the line, this final promises a fierce contest of physicality, flair, and tactical precision. WHO WILL WIN THE FINAL: THE BULLS OR LEINSTER? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Key moments from the Bulls' thrilling URC semi-final against the Sharks
Scrumhalf Embrose Papier played a crucial role in two of the three tries of the Bulls including the one that sealed the URC semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening. Image: BackpagePix There will be some sore bodies in both camps as the Bulls and Sharks contested a nail-biting United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final on Saturday in Pretoria where the hosts clinched a 25-13 victory. Despite copping yellow cards, three in total, the Bulls' defensive effort right before halftime and towards the end of the game, carried them through. And, importantly, they took their opportunities when they came along to score the winning points. Independent Media looks at five key moments from the clash at Loftus Versfeld. 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 A chalked-off early try The Sharks looked to have started brilliantly in the opening 10 minutes when winger Ethan Hooker intercepted a pass after the Bulls put up a devastating scrum. That try would've gotten the visitors off to the perfect start. Instead, the try was cancelled after the Sharks were adjudicated to be offside and not retreating as their scrum moved backwards. That was a monster Bulls scrum and the intervention from the television match official saved them from a try. Papier hits the gas and sets up Sebastian de Klerk who finishes off in brilliant fashion! 🔥@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA — vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) June 7, 2025 Two penalties later and the Bulls strike That offside penalty at the scrum changed the game for the Bulls. From the resulting lineout after they cleared with a kick, they won another penalty and set up the lineout again, crucially, this time around, it was inside the Sharks' half. Scrumhalf Embrose Papier broke away from the second lineout and hit a gap brilliantly to send winger Sebastian de Klerk away for the opening points. That intercept scare and the eventual try at the other side of the field sparked the home side to life. The front rowers combine to put Mapimpi in the corner 😮💨 Intensity is rising as @SharksRugby hit back!@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025 Three yellow cards made it a contest While they found their rhythm after that early scare, some discipline issues almost cost the Bulls badly on the night. Harold Vorster, Cameron Hanekom and Marcell Coetzee found themselves in the naughty chair at a time when the side could not afford it. They were dominating but gave the Sharks a sniff playing with 13 and 14 players shortly before and right after halftime. How the visitors did not capitalise on the yellow cards is still a mystery and they should have done more to put the Bulls under pressure. A top defensive effort While it was not ideal to receive those yellow cards shortly after each other, the way the defence dug in and galvanised right before halftime underscored the Bulls' defensive prowess and their championship credentials. Prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels was at the helm of a massive tackle on his try line to keep the ball up after it looked like the Sharks were going to score when the Bulls were down to 13 right before the break. David Kriel soars over the try line as the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby go one step closer to the Grand Final ✈️@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025
IOL News
30-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
‘More mature' Bulls ready to take on challenges of United Rugby Championship knockouts
Springbok Embrose Papier is back at scrumhalf for the Bulls ahead of their URC quarter-final against Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Image: BackpagePix While playing a quarter-final at home offers a psychological advantage, the Bulls will know all too well that a victory over Edinburgh is not a fait accompli in the quarter-finals of the United Rugby Championship (URC). Despite finishing higher on the official URC log and boasting a formidable record at Loftus Versfeld, the hosts cannot afford to approach the knockout match on Saturday (1.30 pm kick-off) under the illusion that victory is guaranteed. 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 While Edinburgh may have slipped into the playoffs through the back door, play-off rugby is a different beast, and the Scottish side has proven they can grind out results against more fancied opposition and will relish the chance to upset the Pretoria giants on their home turf. Complacency may be the real enemy for the home side and that is why director of rugby Jake White warned them not to take their opponents lightly. They will need to show urgency from the first whistle, maintain discipline on the attack and defence, and apply scoreboard pressure early to avoid giving Edinburgh any sniff of an upset. White selected his strongest available side for the clash, making strategic changes to fortify the side for the onslaught expected from the Scottish side. YOUR team to face Edinburgh in our VURC Quarter Final TOMORROW 🐂 GRAB YOUR SEAT NOW ➡️ 🏆Vodacom Bulls vs Edinburgh 🗓️ 31 May | ⏰ 13:30 | 📍LOFTUS @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #ForeverBlue — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 30, 2025 Scrumhalf Embrose Papier is back and resumes his budding halfback partnership with flyhalf Keagan Johannes. On their outside, Harold Vorster and David Kriel will man the midfield. The back-three of Willie le Roux and wingers Canan Moodie and Sebastian de Klerk complete an exciting backline. Up front, White largely stuck with the same forwards, making only three changes that see Marcell Coetzee back on the side of the scrum, and Boks Johan Grobbelaar and tighthead prop Wilco Louw completing the front row with loosehead Jan Hendrik Wessels. The scrum, with Louw and Wessels at the forefront, will be one of the biggest weapons the Bulls will look to use against their opposition. That and their ability to play for 80-plus minutes at altitude against teams not really acquainted with the thin Pretoria air. Blink and you'll miss it... Just kidding, you can't miss Ruan Nortjé when he's on the pitch 😤@Vodacom #URC — vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) May 30, 2025 'This quarter-final is very different compared to others,' White said of the playoff. 'This group of players has exceeded expectations early on. In the first year, to have played in the final when the average age was 23 years. And, to get to another final last year, and for whatever reason we didn't pull it through, it happens in sport. 'So, it's different because I feel we are maturing as a group. Yes, there have been additions to the group, like an experienced Willie (le Roux) coming in, but guys like Grobbies (Grobbelaar), the Ruan Nortjé's and Simphiwe Matanzimas have grown up as junior squad. 'I do feel things are different. The vibe is different, and the lessons they've learned are a lot more meaningful now because they have played together a lot more. But it is still knockout rugby and a nice time to play. You want to be available to play these massive games.' 🔥 Quarter-Final energy is building 🔥 Sergeal and Cobus have a message ahead of Saturday's Quarter-Final clash 🏟️💪 Get your tickets now! 🎟️👉 #URC | #BULvEDI — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) May 29, 2025 White said they won't concern themselves with who they might face next week because it's a quarter-final against a Scottish team full of international stars that mean business. He added that Edinburgh might be a lesser-known team, but they still possess players with international experience in almost every single position, even on the replacement bench. He added that they are a very competitive team, and they don't go away easily in a match. 'It's not just against us, but look at any games they've played, they stay in the fight. They are a big club with lots of money and internationals. People sometimes don't understand that. Everything you need to know about our Extra Time Protocols 👇 🔗 More info: #URC — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) May 29, 2025
