Latest news with #KeaganJohannes
IOL News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Altitude matters for Jake as Bulls turn their attention to Sharks in URC semi-final
Keagan Johannes of the Bulls scores against Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld during their URC quarter-final on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix After the Bulls had beaten Edinburgh and before the Sharks had kicked off against Munster, Jake White was asked which team he would prefer to play in this week's semi-final. 'I do have a preference,' the Bulls coach said. 'If I wear my commercial hat, I want the Sharks to come to Loftus because we will get a full house. 'If I am wearing my other hat, I wouldn't mind playing Munster. I suppose I am talking myself into a corner here. What I am trying to say is that you have to beat whoever comes here if you think you are good enough to win this competition.' 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 White has his wish. It is the Sharks, and Loftus will almost certainly sell out — not just because it is a semi-final, but because the Sharks enjoy widespread support on the Highveld. White was pleased with the resilience shown by his side in fighting back from 8–21 to comfortably win 42–33. It was an uncharacteristically slow start from the Bulls, and this is a key area White will want to rectify against the Sharks. The funny thing is that Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt told the media during the week that his side had targeted a fast start, yet the Bulls didn't react and found themselves in a dangerous position after the first quarter. 'Sean wanted a fast start and he got it,' White admitted. 'I'm just thankful that we could overcome it and win. They were 21 points to eight up and the final score was forty-something to 33. 'That means from eight to forty-something, we played a lot more rugby in that block than them. That is pleasing for our group.' Not long after half-time, the Bulls scored three tries in 11 minutes to take the game away from the Scots. In explaining the sudden turnaround, White brought up his favourite topic: the altitude. The Bulls have a sign in the tunnel at Loftus Versfeld: 'Altitude. 1350m. It matters.' It is one of the last things the opposition players see as they run out, and it is a ploy to get in their heads. 'Maybe it was the altitude that did the trick,' White smiled, before adding, 'although you guys say there is no altitude. 'So, maybe it was the altitude that nobody wants to talk about. Maybe it caught them in the mauling and scrumming.'
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Flyhalf Johannes stars as Bulls subdue Edinburgh
The Vodacom Bulls booked their place in the United Rugby Championship semi-finals after an six-try win over Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld. Flyhalf Keagan Johannes starred with boot and ball, scoring 17 points – including a superb solo try – in the Bulls' 42-33 win over Edinburgh. The hosts were dealt an early blow when wing Sebastian de Klerk was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle shortly after kickoff. Edinburgh made the most of the extra man, with fullback Wes Goosen crossing to open the scoring. Despite being down to 14, the Bulls responded with a penalty from Johannes to narrow the gap. The Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby are on the loose Keagan Johannes gets the defender with the dummy and goes all the way to score #BKTURC #URC | #BULvEDI — BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 31, 2025 Flyhalf Ross Thompson added a second for Edinburgh, again taking advantage of the numerical edge. Once De Klerk returned, the Bulls struck back. Springbok No 8 Cameron Hanekom powered over to cut the deficit. Edinburgh remained efficient in the red zone, and after a scrum penalty led to a lineout, they moved the ball wide for Thompson to grab his second. The Bulls answered with a well-constructed try sparked by veteran Willie le Roux's linebreak, finished by centre David Kriel. The momentum continued with Harold Vorster finishing a flowing team move to bring the Bulls within one point. However, kicking proved costly in the first half, with the home side managing just one successful kick from four. Edinburgh still led 21-18 at the break. The second half started with the Bulls turning the tide. A dominant spell of possession led to Canan Moodie scoring their fourth try. Johannes soon added a fifth with a brilliant solo effort, before captain Ruan Nortje forced his way over for the sixth, the Bulls' third try of the third quarter. Edinburgh refused to fold, and hooker Ewan Ashman crossed after sustained pressure. The Scottish side then gained a man advantage when JF van Heerden was shown a yellow for repeated infringements, but it was short-lived as Thompson was also sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on. Goosen's second try of the evening made it 42-33 going into the final quarter, but Edinburgh couldn't find a way back. The Bulls' defence held firm in the dying stages, and they reclaimed possession to close out the win. The result sees the Bulls move on to the semi-finals, where they will face either the Sharks or Munster, who meet in the last quarter-final at Kings Park today. The post Johannes stars as Bulls subdue Edinburgh appeared first on SA Rugby Magazine.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
White names Bok-laden Bulls team for URC quarterfinal
The Bulls will be looking to win through to their third semifinals appearance in four seasons. Bulls boss Jake White has picked a formidable side for the team's United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld at 1.30pm on Saturday. In all, there are nine Springboks in the starting team in what is now a very familiar looking side. In the absence of the injured Johan Goosen, Keagan Johannes will continue to wear the No 10 jersey, with Willie le Roux at fullback. Earlier this season when Goosen was also out, Le Roux deputised at flyhalf, but White has opted to keep his specialist players in their preferred positions. That said, Johannes started out as a scrumhalf. Return of Papier at scrumhalf All three men in the front row are Boks, namely Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw, while the back row is also packed with international players — Marcell Coetzee, Cameron Hanekom and captain Ruan Nortje who continues to be backed as a blindside flanker. In the backs Embrose Papier is back in place of Zak Burger, to partner Johannes, while Canan Moodie will play on the right wing. The Bulls are looking to win through to their third URC semifinal, after playing in two previous finals. Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk, Keagan Johannes, Embrose Papier, Cameron Hanekom, Ruan Nortje (capt), Marcell Coetzee, JF van Heerden, Cobus Wiese, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Bench: Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Marco van Staden, Zak Burger, Stedman Gans, Devon Williams
