The Vodacom Bulls survived three yellow playing cards and a large effort from the Hollywoodbets Sharks to e book their third ultimate within the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in 4 years, as they received an epic semifinal 25-13 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening.
Whereas Jake White’s facet flirted with catastrophe greater than as soon as, that they had sufficient within the tank to beat a Sharks facet that was massive on combat however lacked the attacking aptitude when it was wanted so as to add to their two wins over the Bulls this season.
The encounter will go down as one other epic semifinal between two huge South African groups, however the actuality is now the Bulls have one other mountain to climb on Saturday as they head to Dublin to face Irish juggernaut Leinster in what guarantees to be a large ultimate.
The Vodacom Bulls are #VURC Grand-finalists for the third time ✅
They defeat the Hollywoodbets Sharks and keep their 100% report within the semi-finals of this competitors.#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/rX0ulJxWMQ
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 7, 2025
Given Leinster’s huge win over Glasgow Warriors earlier within the day, in a scoreline that flatters the dropping facet, the Bulls will begin as huge underdogs when the journey issue can also be added.
However what is going to give the Bulls hope, is the actual fact they beat Leinster earlier this yr, albeit a really a lot second string facet, in addition to two semifinal wins within the final three years – one in every of them in Dublin.
BRUISING ENCOUNTER
And but on Saturday evening the exhaustion of a bruising encounter with the Durban facet was very a lot evident because the Bulls gamers collapsed to the bottom when the ultimate whistle went, partly from fatigue and the battle, and really a lot from aid.
As a result of as a lot because the win means the Bulls will proceed their quest to win their maiden title, it’s a must to marvel how a lot the sport took out of them.
The essential blow that settled the sport got here within the 67th minute, shortly after Keagan Johannes had missed a penalty that will have taken them greater than a rating up.
The kickoff threaded its approach to Embrose Papier, who – not for the primary time within the night – discovered a half hole to surge up and offloaded to a flying Cobus Wiese.
Wiese’s 20-metre run downfield had been sufficient to see David Kriel dash into house and when the inevitable go got here, it was pure glory as Kriel, ignored by the Bok selectors regardless of distinctive consistency over the previous few seasons, swallow-dived over the road.
David Kriel soars over the strive line because the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby go one step nearer to the Grand Last ✈️@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA pic.twitter.com/W0SpwnYw27
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025
After they had been two scores up, it was the Sharks who had been determined, and it wasn’t stunning to see the Bulls’ defence, which had been wonderful all evening, step up and shut the door on the slim hopes the Sharks had of the comeback.
YELLOWS ALMOST COST BULLS VICTORY
Nonetheless, when the evaluation is finished, quite a lot of time can be spent on the self-discipline issue, because the three yellow playing cards nearly value them any hope of victory.
The playing cards – the seventeenth, 18th and nineteenth of the season, are unacceptable at this stage and whereas it’s a high-emotion sport the place issues occur shortly, in the event that they do the identical in Dublin they’re positive to be punished by Leinster.
Might this be the turning level on this #VURC semi-final?
The Vodacom Bulls have one other man within the Sin Bin.
📺 Stream on DStv: pic.twitter.com/y63rwxjHMh
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 7, 2025
The actual fact they performed 14 minutes with 13 males, and solely conceded one strive is testomony to their defence and the sheer guts that stored them alive.
From David Kriel’s turnover on his personal tryline to Jannes Kirsten twisting Ox Nche over the road to carry him up, there have been so many moments that can be celebrated by the Bulls once they evaluation the sport.
Nonetheless, whereas Harold Vorster was unfortunate when he was pinged for enjoying the ball in a sort out, Cameron Hanekom’s tip sort out on Siya Kolisi may simply have been purple, however was in all probability saved by the truth that a Sharks participant had joined and helped the tip occur.
Hanekom was stretchered off when he returned to the sphere because it appeared he was the sufferer of an unfortunate clear by Kolisi at a ruck, and it’s hopeful that the harm will not be too severe.
His 2024 check ambitions had been ruined by an harm in final season’s ultimate, and it might be horrendous if it occurred this season once more.
Marcell Coetzee joined the sin bin three minutes later for a collapsed maul, which appeared a bit harsh on the time.
SHARKS TACTICS POOR WHEN BULLS DOWN TO 13
Though all of this favoured the Sharks, their techniques had been poor as they continued to assault the identical areas, and failed to make use of the house they had been supplied with two Bulls off the sphere, permitting the Bulls to limp into halftime with none punishment.
It got here after a primary half the place the Bulls scrum confirmed dominance over the World Cup winners, however nearly had been punished after their first monster push as Kriel despatched the ball into Ethan Hooker’s fingers for the winger to go over.
Fortunately for the Bulls the TMO adjudged the backline had moved offside earlier than the scrum was over and the strive was overturned.
In a flash, the Bulls scored on the different finish of the sphere, as Papier ghosted via a niche, and despatched Sebastian de Klerk to weave via three defenders to attain.
The Vodacom Bulls land the primary blow at Loftus.
Sebastian de Klerk finishes off an excellent transfer by Embrose Papier.
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: pic.twitter.com/dwoAUVrs21
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 7, 2025
The Sharks had some possibilities, however missed kicks by each Jordan and Jaden Hendrikse had been expensive within the first half and an error grew to become extra expensive within the twenty second minute as Jaden slipped as he tried to clear a turnover ball on his personal line, grubbering the ball into the fingers of De Klerk, who cleverly despatched a cross-kick into the fingers of Canan Moodie to attain within the reverse nook.
What has simply occurred 😱@BlueBullsRugby rating their second of the evening with Canan Moodie flying into the nook 🚀@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA pic.twitter.com/Q8pJoOAGOV
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025
A penalty by Johan Goosen made it 15-3 earlier than the yellow card insanity began.
SHARKS FINALLY FIND RELIEF
The Sharks ultimately discovered some aid early within the second half when the Bulls needed to run out of defenders and Makazole Mapimpi went in on the nook.
The entrance rowers mix to place Mapimpi within the nook 😮💨
Depth is rising as @SharksRugby hit again!@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA pic.twitter.com/mYxCjv9IeY
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025
Coetzee had simply returned to take them again to fifteen when the Sharks scored one other within the different nook, with Hooker lastly getting his strive after sustained stress.
At 15-13 it appeared like this might go all the way down to the wire, however Johannes despatched dwelling a great thing about a penalty to make it a 5 level sport after which Kriel put it past doubt to present the journey brokers some reserving work for the ultimate.
Earlier than this sport the Bulls had misplaced 4 video games this season, two of them to the Sharks. And as with their wins over Munster and Glasgow away from dwelling, this can be one which issues to them.
However they may also comprehend it means nothing except they will defy the chances subsequent weekend in Dublin.
Scorers
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, David Kriel Conversion: Johan Goosen, Keagan Johannes. Penalties: Goosen, Johannes
Hollywoodbets Sharks – Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Ethan Hooker. Penalty: Jordan Hendrikse
