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The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Bulls, Sharks to serve another epic at Loftus
A BULLS v Sharks knockout/playoff clash will always be one for the ages and the United Rugby Championship semi-final between the two at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday at 6.15pm, is sure serve another epic storyline. Judging by the quarter-final scorelines, Bulls beat Edinburgh 42-33 while Sharks had to be clinical in the penalty shootout to go past Munster after a 24-24 extra time draw, there is no denying the home side a favourite's tag. The good news for South African rugby is that Mzansi already has a team in the final. Independent Newspapers rugbby writers Mike Greenaway and Leighton Koopman look at which side will win and why. WHY THE BULLS WILL WIN Leighton Koopman As South Africa's form side in the United Rugby Championship, boosted by home advantage and team that peaked at the right time of the year, the Bulls are in the inside lane to win the semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening. Their dominating scrum and physical forwards will give them the edge over the Sharks who had a thing of late to only arrive in the second half. While the competition at scrum time will be the perfect test of strength versus strength, it's the Bulls' overpowering scrum that will drive the visitors into submission. While there is an all-Bok front row for the Sharks too, tighthead Wilco Louw has been a destroyer up front and Nche will have a hard time keeping him in check. And on the other side, the young Jan-Hendrik Wessels will stand strong against veteran Vincent Koch. Then, the superiority of the Bulls in the lineout will outshine their opponents. Captain Ruan Nortjé will lick his lips at poaching balls but also securing them longside JF van Heerden and Cobus Wiese. The Sharks losing Eben Etzebeth and Jason Jenkins will be music to the ears of the Bulls' lineout. It is a risk bringing Johan Goosen back from injury and dropping him straight into the starting side, but he can pull the strings to set the backline running. Along with fullback Willie le Roux, they can open the gaps to set the likes of Canan Moodie and Sebastian de Klerk away. De Klerk and Moodie's prowess under the high kicks, and there will be plenty up and unders coming from Goosen and scrumhalf Embrose Papier. The Bulls' overall gameplan, they vary their tactics way better than the Sharks, should see them be too strong for their visitors, and they will progress to another final. WHY THE SHARKS WILL WIN Mike Greenaway The Sharks are a team tailor-made for high-pressure knockout games. John Plumtree has created a culture where the team loves to triumph over adversity. The Sharks have won their last six games without reaching anywhere near their potential. They are a dogged side that enjoys pulling the contest down into the trenches for unarmed combat. It won't worry them in the slightest that they are not scoring tries. Any way to the winner's podium will do, and if that means leaving the cork in the champagne rugby approach, so be it. The Bulls have been scoring an average of five tries per game at Loftus as their impressive backs cash in on the sparkling possession coming their way, but semi-finals and finals are different beasts. The pressure cranks up; defences get tighter; the aerial game is preferred to adventurous attack. All of this suits the Sharks and their street-fighter approach. They will drag the Bulls into an arm wrestle. This is the way the Sharks have been playing all season. In a sense, they have been playing finals rugby for most of the URC. There is also the significant fact that they have seven double World Cup-winning Springboks in their team, including four in their pack. Even without Etzebeth and Jenkins, this is a Sharks pack that can stand up to the Bulls. Leading them is Siya Kolisi. The Springbok captain's experience of making good decisions in the heat of battle will stand the Sharks in good stead, while his inspired move from flank to No 8 allows for Plumtree to pick a genuine fetcher in James Venter and an exceptional blindside flank in Vincent Tshituka, who was recently called up to the Springbok squad. It means the Sharks have an underrated loose trio to go with a solid tight five, so the Sharks' backs will get their fair share of decent possession. There is also the nagging suspicion that the Sharks' backline could click when it matters most. There are too many superstars in that back division for cohesion to evade them much longer.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Bulls, Sharks to serve another epic at Loftus
THE Loftus crowd will add colour to the epic semi-final clash between the Bulls and the Sharks. | BACKPAGEPIX A BULLS v Sharks knockout/playoff clash will always be one for the ages and the United Rugby Championship semi-final between the two at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday at 6.15pm, is sure serve another epic storyline. Judging by the quarter-final scorelines, Bulls beat Edinburgh 42-33 while Sharks had to be clinical in the penalty shootout to go past Munster after a 24-24 extra time draw, there is no denying the home side a favourite's tag. The good news for South African rugby is that Mzansi already has a team in the final. Independent Newspapers rugbby writers Mike Greenaway and Leighton Koopman look at which side will win and why. WHY THE BULLS WILL WIN Leighton Koopman As South Africa's form side in the United Rugby Championship, boosted by home advantage and team that peaked at the right time of the year, the Bulls are in the inside lane to win the semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening. Their dominating scrum and physical forwards will give them the edge over the Sharks who had a thing of late to only arrive in the second half. While the competition at scrum time will be the perfect test of strength versus strength, it's the Bulls' overpowering scrum that will drive the visitors into submission. While there is an all-Bok front row for the Sharks too, tighthead Wilco Louw has been a destroyer up front and Nche will have a hard time keeping him in check. And on the other side, the young Jan-Hendrik Wessels will stand strong against veteran Vincent Koch. Then, the superiority of the Bulls in the lineout will outshine their opponents. Captain Ruan Nortjé will lick his lips at poaching balls but also securing them longside JF van Heerden and Cobus Wiese. The Sharks losing Eben Etzebeth and Jason Jenkins will be music to the ears of the Bulls' lineout. It is a risk bringing Johan Goosen back from injury and dropping him straight into the starting side, but he can pull the strings to set the backline running. Along with fullback Willie le Roux, they can open the gaps to set the likes of Canan Moodie and Sebastian de Klerk away. De Klerk and Moodie's prowess under the high kicks, and there will be plenty up and unders coming from Goosen and scrumhalf Embrose Papier. The Bulls' overall gameplan, they vary their tactics way better than the Sharks, should see them be too strong for their visitors, and they will progress to another final. WHY THE SHARKS WILL WIN Mike Greenaway The Sharks are a team tailor-made for high-pressure knockout games. John Plumtree has created a culture where the team loves to triumph over adversity. The Sharks have won their last six games without reaching anywhere near their potential. They are a dogged side that enjoys pulling the contest down into the trenches for unarmed combat. It won't worry them in the slightest that they are not scoring tries. Any way to the winner's podium will do, and if that means leaving the cork in the champagne rugby approach, so be it. The Bulls have been scoring an average of five tries per game at Loftus as their impressive backs cash in on the sparkling possession coming their way, but semi-finals and finals are different beasts. The pressure cranks up; defences get tighter; the aerial game is preferred to adventurous attack. All of this suits the Sharks and their street-fighter approach. They will drag the Bulls into an arm wrestle. This is the way the Sharks have been playing all season. In a sense, they have been playing finals rugby for most of the URC. There is also the significant fact that they have seven double World Cup-winning Springboks in their team, including four in their pack. Even without Etzebeth and Jenkins, this is a Sharks pack that can stand up to the Bulls. Leading them is Siya Kolisi. The Springbok captain's experience of making good decisions in the heat of battle will stand the Sharks in good stead, while his inspired move from flank to No 8 allows for Plumtree to pick a genuine fetcher in James Venter and an exceptional blindside flank in Vincent Tshituka, who was recently called up to the Springbok squad. It means the Sharks have an underrated loose trio to go with a solid tight five, so the Sharks' backs will get their fair share of decent possession. There is also the nagging suspicion that the Sharks' backline could click when it matters most. There are too many superstars in that back division for cohesion to evade them much longer.
The Star
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
‘More mature' Bulls ready to take on challenges of United Rugby Championship knockouts
Leighton Koopman | Published 7 hours ago 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. 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. 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. '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.' 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. 'They also have lots of British and Irish Lions and Schoeman (Pierre) and (Duhan) Van der Merwe who were selected for this campaign. Hamish Watson is a British Lion. There is no doubt that having that international experience makes a player better at provincial level. 'This is still a big game, and I take it like that. I talk myself into the fact that we must never take it for granted that we made it into the knockout games.' The Bulls indicated that the No 14 jersey, once worn by former player Cornal Hendricks who passed away earlier this month, won't feature for the side again this season in the URC. Their winger will either wear jersey 23 or 24 depending on the size. Bulls Team 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortjé, 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 Stedman Gans, 23 Devon Williams.
The Star
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Marcel Theunissen set to play pivotal role in Stormers' URC quarter-final against Glasgow Warriors
Leighton Koopman | Published 45 minutes ago The Stormers are bracing for a dog-fight at the rucks and breakdowns against Glasgow Warriors in tomorrow's first United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final in the Scottish city. For Marcel Theunissen, loose forward of the Cape side, it will be another opportunity to push up his stocks as he faces some seasoned campaigners from the defending champions on their home turf. But it's not only at the tackle area where he will be a vital cog. He's also become a prolific lineout-jumper and ball carrier for his side, and those all-round skills will be crucial as the Stormers push for a semi-final spot at Scotstoun Stadium (8.35pm start). The loss of Ben-Jason Dixon and Deon Fourie after some unfortunate injuries this season benefited Theunissen, who had to wait for his opportunities in the Stormers jersey. Now that he has received an extended run from coach John Dobson, it's been difficult for other loose forwards to take his place. And maybe this came as a blessing in disguise for the Cape side, who can now count on the versatile 25-year-old to fill the big boots of the injured Springbok duo. He was first thriving in the No 6 jersey, with Fourie out, but has now shifted to blindside flank in the absence of Dixon and has proven himself with some brilliant performances this season. For Theunissen, though, the grafting won't stop now as he looks to continue contributing to make their campaign a success. The Stormers are looking to snap a four-match losing streak against the Scottish club. 'A game like this offers a good chance for us to make a statement,' Theunissen said this week from Glasgow. 'But when it comes to a team like Glasgow, you can't highlight one aspect of their game as being a weakness, because they have an overall very good game-plan. 'You can't be off on a single aspect of the game against them. We've been talking about this the whole week. 'Whether it is in the scrums, mauls, breakdown, or open play, whatever it is, you must front up in every aspect.' He attributes his prowess in the lineout to his teammates, who have helped him adapt to the role as a blindside flanker. Theunissen has always had a love for reading the lineouts and competing on opposition throw-ins. But as an openside flanker, he had to focus more on playing towards the ball. With the shift to the opposite side of the scrum, he's had greater opportunities to make an impact in the lineouts, while getting to carry the ball into space and contact, which is another thing he loves to do on the rugby field. 'When I play at number seven or eight, the opportunity to carry the ball is a bit more than if you play at six. I like to run with the ball. It is one of the strongest parts of my game,' Theunissen said. 'I've played against some of the Glasgow guys, and they are good players. 'This is a good opportunity to give our best and measure ourselves against their loose trio (which includes the likes of Rory Darge, Henco Venter, Jack Dempsey and Matt Fagerson). 'A lot of us have played on the 4G pitches, and it is not new to us. 'A lot of guys know how the momentum works on the pitch, and it won't have a big role to play.'
