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Bulls and Stormers secure home URC playoffs as Lions limp into quarters

Adnaan MohamedNews, RugbyLeave a Comment on Bulls and Stormers secure home URC playoffs as Lions limp into quarters
By Adnaan Mohamed

The Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs will feature three South African teams after a dramatic final round delivered a cocktail of celebration and frustration for the country’s franchises.

The Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers earned prized home URC quarter-finals with emphatic statements in Pretoria and despite defeat in Cardiff respectively, while the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions scraped into the playoffs after stumbling in Limerick. The Hollywoodbets Sharks ended their campaign with a fireworks display in Durban.

The Bulls charged like a runaway scrum at Loftus Versfeld, flattening Benetton Rugby 45-19 to secure fourth place and a home quarter-final against Munster Rugby. Johan Ackermann’s men crossed for seven tries and stretched their winning streak to six matches.

Sergeal Petersen bagged a brace, while Willie le Roux, Johan Grobbelaar, Cobus Wiese, Celimpilo Gumede and Ruan Nortje also powered over. Handre Pollard added five conversions with the precision of a metronome steering a backline orchestra.

Benetton’s resistance came through Louis Lynagh’s double and a try by Rhyno Smith, though the visitors spent most of the evening chasing shadows across the Highveld turf.

In Wales, Cardiff slammed the brakes on the Stormers’ hopes of a top-two finish with a gritty 22-16 victory at Cardiff Arms Park. The Cape side burst from the blocks like sprinters off the starter’s gun, but Cardiff’s defence became a brick wall around the tryline.

Adre Smith scored early for the Stormers, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added a conversion and three penalties. Cardiff struck through Jacob Beetham’s brace, Tom Bowen and Ioan Lloyd to seal a quarter-final rematch in Cape Town.

The Lions, meanwhile, slipped to a 24-17 defeat against Munster in Limerick, leaving them with the daunting challenge of facing defending champions Leinster Rugby in Dublin.

Down in Durban, the Sharks signed off in style by crushing Zebre Parma 54-19. Siya Kolisi produced a captain’s farewell worthy of a stadium ovation with two tries, while Jaco Williams, Zekethelo Siyaya, Vusi Moyo, Emmanuel Tshituka, Le Roux Malan and Ross Braude also crossed the whitewash.

The result secured 10th place for the Sharks and offered a glimpse of a side beginning to sharpen its claws for future campaigns.

Vodacom URC quarter-finals

Friday, 29 May
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht – Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow (20:45 SA time)

Saturday, 30 May
Vodacom Bulls v Munster – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (13:00)
DHL Stormers v Cardiff – DHL Stadium, Cape Town (15:30)
Leinster v Fidelity SecureDrive Lions – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (21:00)

SA Teams Sweep URC Round 13 | Bulls Lions Sharks Stormers Victorious

Adnaan MohamedNews, RugbyLeave a Comment on SA Teams Sweep URC Round 13 | Bulls Lions Sharks Stormers Victorious
By Adnaan Mohamed

South Africa’s four franchises turned home ground into a fortress during Round 13 of the United Rugby Championship, delivering a clean sweep of bonus-point victories that sent a surge of momentum through the playoff race.

The Vodacom Bulls, Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers all triumphed in front of their home supporters, creating a weekend that echoed with the rhythm of attacking rugby and relentless forward play.

With five pool matches remaining, the Stormers climbed to second on the standings with 46 points behind the Glasgow Warriors on 50. The Lions occupy seventh place with 38 points, the Bulls hold eighth on 35, and the Sharks remain in the hunt in 11th with 29.

Bulls power past Cardiff

The Bulls ignited the weekend with a commanding 40-7 victory over Cardiff Rugby in Pretoria.

Cardiff opened the scoring in the third minute when Harri Millard crossed for a try converted by Callum Sheedy. That early breakthrough stirred the Bulls pack into action. Marcell Coetzee crashed over from a driving maul before Johann Grobbelaar followed through the same channel minutes later.

The backline soon joined the charge as Kurt-Lee Arendse released David Kriel for the third try. Embrose Papier added another after sharp interplay, and Elrigh Louw gathered a perfectly weighted cross kick from Nizaam Carr shortly before halftime to give the Bulls a 33-7 lead.

Ruan Vermaak scored the only try of the second half as the Pretoria side secured a six-try bonus-point victory.

Scorers

Vodacom Bulls 40 (33)
Tries: Marcell Coetzee, Johann Grobbelaar, David Kriel, Embrose Papier, Elrigh Louw, Ruan Vermaak
Conversions: Handre Pollard (4), David Kriel

Cardiff 7 (7)
Try: Harri Millard
Conversion: Callum Sheedy

Lions roar at Ellis Park

The Lions followed with a spectacular 54-17 triumph over Edinburgh Rugby at Ellis Park.

The Johannesburg side stormed to a four-try bonus point within the opening 26 minutes through Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Darrien Landsberg and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, who celebrated his 100th appearance with a try. Bronson Mills added another before halftime as the Lions surged to a 35-0 lead.

Edinburgh responded with three second-half tries, though the Lions maintained their attacking rhythm. Angelo Davids crossed twice with blistering pace and Haashim Pead sealed the eight-try performance shortly before the final whistle.

Scorers

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions 54 (35)
Tries: Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Darrien Landsberg, Morne van den Berg, Bronson Mills, Angelo Davids (2), Haashim Pead
Conversions: Chris Smith (7)

Edinburgh 17 (0)
Tries: Ewan Ashman, Freddy Douglas, Matt Currie
Conversion: Cammy Scott

Sharks and Stormers complete the sweep

In Durban, the Sharks produced one of their most complete displays of the season, shutting out Munster Rugby 45-0 at Kings Park. The Durban side combined powerful defence with swift attacking strikes to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Stormers closed the weekend in Cape Town with a 29-21 victory over Dragons RFC. The Cape side blended forward power with attacking flair to claim another five-point haul and cement their place near the top of the table.

Across four cities and four matches, South Africa’s franchises marched in unison. Each victory carried the same message across the competition. The playoff race has entered its decisive stretch, and the local teams are charging forward with growing confidence.