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The Citizen
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bulls get another crack at Edinburgh
The team playing at home has won every match between the sides. The Bulls can make it three from three at Loftus. The Bulls and Edinburgh play again after the Bulls won their URC league match and Edinburgh won their Challenge Cup game this season. Picture: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images The Bulls have a chance to settle the score against Edinburgh when the teams clash in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Loftus in two weeks. The fixture is fitting after the Bulls narrowly missed their opportunity to be the first South African side to beat Edinburgh in Scotland when they lost 34–28 in their Challenge Cup quarter-final last month. As it happened, the Sharks took that honour with an 18–17 win thanks to a last-minute try in the URC the next weekend. Edinburgh were the only team the Bulls lost to in their history-making month-long tour in Europe recently. The Bulls did, however, get the better of the Scottish outfit when they hosted them in their only league phase URC match this season, held at Loftus in September (final score 22–16). Edinburgh ahead 3–2 All in all, Edinburgh have won three of the five clashes between the sides, though the team playing at home has always emerged victorious. That means the Bulls have a perfect record against Edinburgh at Loftus, and will want to capitalise on that in their knockout match. The game holds even more significance with Edinburgh being coached by Jake White's former assistant coach at the Sharks and consultant with the Bulls, Sean Everitt. The Pretoria side are now on a four-game winning streak in the URC while Edinburgh come from two victories against Connacht and Ulster, which secured them their seventh-spot finish. The Bulls smashed Dragons nine tries to three at Loftus on Saturday (final score 55–15). In the end, the bonus-point win did not influence where they finished on the table (second), with Leinster beating Glasgow Warriors 13–5 at Aviva Stadium in Ireland later that day. Bulls find a new 'why' going into play-offs After the Dragons game, White said the death of former Bulls star Cornal Hendricks – whom they paid homage to during the game – had become the 'why' they needed to progress to the play-offs. He said teams sometimes needed an emotional focal point to direct their energy and lift their game. Bulls flanker Nama Xaba explained after being awarded man of the match that it had been an emotional week for everyone in the squad. 'We wanted to come out today and show the energy that is there in training in games. I think we were able to do that,' he said. White added: 'So job done. I always say you need to get into the play-offs. We've done that and are in the fortunate position of being in second position. You get judged on the next three games. That's when you want to be at your best.'
South Wales Argus
18-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Another URC mismatch for Dragons as Bulls' power shows
Realistically, the Rodney Parade club were never going to end a United Rugby Championship losing streak that stretches back to the opening weekend success against the Ospreys. The Bulls were comfortable throughout and had their bonus in the bag when crashing over with the final play of the first half. The Dragons did, however, give them something to think about when Rhodri Williams' delightful pass set up Huw Anderson and then the scrum-half scored a terrific solo himself. The Bulls responded to take their try total to nine before Carmarthen Quins' Lewis Morgan went over to give the visitors a shot at an unlikely consolation bonus. They thought they had it when Ashton Hewitt, in his last game as a Dragon, raced over only for a forward pass to frustrate the winger. It was the correct decision, even if it denied us a sentimental moment. That meant the Dragons finish the season in single figures with their nine points a joint record low in the league. They just edge out Zebre's class of 2022 on points difference. The Dragons finished a whopping 20 points behind the Italians with 14th-placed Ulster 29 points away, while the gap to the play-offs was 39. SCRAMBLE: Rhodri Williams clings on to Cameron Hanekom (Image: Gordon Arons/Huw Evans Agency) MISMATCH For weeks there has been no jeopardy with Dragons games, all their game were destined to be defeats unless something ridiculous happened. The Ulster home game was winnable, as were the Welsh derbies against Scarlets and the Ospreys with a touch of fortune, but they were NEVER going to beat the Stormer and Bulls. Under Filo Tiatia as boss, ALL of their URC opponents have claimed five-point hauls. This final fixture was an odd game with the Bulls getting the job done comfortably to ensure they keep momentum but not exerting themselves too much for the play-offs. Their power was too much but the South Africans weren't as ruthless as they could have been in what was a stop-start game. Plenty of time was spent waiting for scrums and resets, to the frustration of referee Andrew Brace. It was one-way traffic for much of the afternoon but the Dragons did at least show some flashes of inspiration. There was a terrific strike play in the first half that set Angus O'Brien free and almost created a try and then Williams came to the fore after the restart with a sensational wide pass for Anderson and solo effort. We only got some fleeting moments but frankly that was all we expected given the long list of absentees. Arguably only six players – Aneurin Owen, O'Brien, Williams, Ben Carter, Shane Lewis-Hughes/Ryan Woodman (tight call at blindside) and Aaron Wainwright – started the season as a first-choice starter. The XV will look very different in September, and it needs to, and the bench should be stronger. The pressure will be huge in the first block of next season for the players and management team. LEADER: Aneurin Owen has shouldered a heavy burden for the Dragons (Image: Gordon Arons/Huw Evans Agency) OUT OF THE FIRING LINE The Dragons coaches haven't had enough selection decisions since the turn of the year. The absentee list has been around the 20-mark for too long and they have had to call on young talent before they are really ready. Five youngsters who could play for Wales in the World Rugby U20 Championship have made their pro debuts this season – wing Harry Rees-Weldon, fly-half Harri Wilde, prop Owain James, lock Nick Thomas, back rower Evan Minto. Brodie Coghlan and Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, who made his debut at the Scarlets on New Year's Day, have been forced to play far too much in 2025. Flanker Ryan Woodman, who has been fielded out of position at lock, and centre Aneurin Owen are two prime examples of players who have been flogged through necessity. One fears that two hugely talented players, individuals with the ability to step up to Test level, are at risk of being damaged by bad experiences at club level. The hope is that the lessons learnt in tough times will outweigh the harm done through so many crushing defeats. 75' TRYYYY DRAGONS And what a way to make your debut!! Driving maul and Lewis Morgan is the beneficiary to score Dragons' third try. #WeAreGwentRugby #BULvDRA — Dragons RFC 🐉 (@dragonsrfc) May 17, 2025 STEPPING UP The Dragons headed into the game with a 22-man absentee list and three of them were senior looseheads Rhodri Jones, Rodrigo Martinez and Josh Reynolds. That has led to Kelleher-Griffiths being thrown in at the deep end and performing pretty well since his New Year's Day debut in Llanelli. However, he joined the injury victims when he went down and stayed down in the 17th minute, seemingly suffering a hand injury. The easy choice would have been to put on Tonga international Paula Latu, who had played most of his rugby at loosehead before heading to the Dragons as short-term tighthead cover. Instead, they put their faith in Jamie Hughes just seven days after he had been in the Llandovery side that lost to Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park in the semi-finals of Super Rygbi Cymru. The 28-year-old has been leading figure in the success of the Drovers and performed admirably in an hour-long effort in Pretoria. Hughes had some tough moments – what prop doesn't in South Africa? – but did himself and the Drovers proud. The same can be said for Morgan, a former Wales Under-20s international now on the books of Carmarthen Quins. He hit his man at the lineout fresh from the bench and then was at the bottom of the pile when the backs helped the forwards go over the line. The Dragons had to call in favours from the SRC through necessity but this was a sign that the knowledge is there for who is ready and able to step up when needed. Nonetheless, hopefully a bit more luck can avoid the need for such SOS calls next season.
The Citizen
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
URC quarter-finals: Top eight and kick-off times confirmed
The Bulls and Sharks will play at home in the last-eight, while the Stormers will be in action in Scotland against the defending champions. The Bulls celebrate the try from Sergeal Petersen against the Dragons on Saturday. The Pretoria-based team finished second on the log at the end of the URC league stage. Picture: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images The United Rugby Championship league phase came to a conclusion on Saturday night and all that remains for the 2024/25 season are the knockout games. The quarter-finals will take place on the weekend of May 30 and 31. Irish giants Leinster finished top of the pile after 18 games with 76 points. They won 16 matches with two defeats. In second are the Bulls, with 68 points from 14 wins, while the Sharks finished third with 62 points and 13 wins. In fourth are the defending champions from last season, the Glasgow Warriors, with 59 points from 11 wins, while the Stormers finished fifth with 10 wins and 55 points. Sixth, Seventh and eighth places have gone to Munster, Edinburgh and Scarlets. The Lions missed out on the top eight for the fourth straight season, finishing 11th with 40 points from eight wins. Quarter-finals lineup In the quarter-finals in just under two weeks' time, Glasgow Warriors will host the Stormers at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night, May 30 at 8.35pm. On the Saturday, May 31 the Bulls will be up first at home at Loftus, against Edinburgh at 1.30pm, and that will be followed by Leinster hosting Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin at 4pm. At 6.30pm, at Kings Park in Durban, the Sharks will welcome Munster. The URC takes a break this weekend for the Europe-based Challenge and Champions Cup competition finals to take place, both at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, on Friday and Saturday respectively. Final URC points table
News24
18-05-2025
- General
- News24
A Challenge Cup grudge against Edinburgh means one less Bulls team talk for White
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Wales Online
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Dragons' nightmare season finally ends as club equal unwanted record
Dragons' nightmare season finally ends as club equal unwanted record The 55-15 defeat to the Bulls made it 17 defeats from 18 matches for the Dragons this season The Dragons lost 17 out of 18 league matches this season (Image: Gordon Arons/Huw Evans Agency ) The Dragons' nightmare season came to an end with a 55-15 defeat to the Bulls in Pretoria that saw the club equal the record for the worst United Rugby Championship league campaign. The Men of Gwent went into the final game of the season having not won a league fixture since the opening day against the Ospreys. And, with the title-chasing Bulls heavy favourites with the bookies and the Dragons without 22 players, there was rarely any danger of the lengthy wait for a victory being ended. On an emotional day in Pretoria, with tributes paid both before the game and during the match to former Springboks winger Cornal Hendricks after his death this week at the age of 37, the league's second-placed side comfortably dispatched the basement club. With that, the Dragons finished the season on nine points - level with the previous lowest total set by Zebre in 2022. Already cast adrift from the rest of the league, Filo Tiatia's side ended up 20 points behind 15th place - begging questions of just how much they will improve next term, regardless of the number of signings already made. After a tribute to former Bulls wing Hendricks before kick-off, the home side started in ominous fashion. Article continues below After Cameron Hanekom went close, Jake White's side crossed twice in the opening seven minutes through David Kriel and Cobus Wiese. Sebastian de Klerk went over just before the end of the first quarter, before Akker van der Merwe secured the bonus point ahead of half-time. The Dragons rallied after half-time, with Huw Anderson going over out wide two minutes after the restart. Wales scrum-half Rhodri Williams closed the gap further with a fine individual try. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Hooker van der Merwe crossed for his second, before the Bulls really took charge through a quickfire brace from Sergeal Petersen Replacements Marcell Coetzee and Devon Williams got in on the act, bringing the Bull's total to nine tries. However, it would be the Dragons that would have the final say. Former Wales U20s hooker Lewis Morgan, called up this week from Carmarthen Quins following the Dragons' injury crisis, got over for a score from a maul. Tiatia's side looked like they were about to get something from the match late on. Article continues below Departing winger Ashton Hewitt - who leaves Rodney Parade as their second-highest try-scorer - appeared to have added to his collection in his final outing in the dying minutes. However, the try - that would have been his 38th for the club - was chalked out for a forward pass.
