The Vodacom Bulls survived three yellow cards and a massive effort from the Hollywoodbets Sharks to book their third final in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in four years, as they won an epic semifinal 25-13 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.
While Jake White’s side flirted with disaster more than once, they had enough in the tank to beat a Sharks side that was big on fight but lacked the attacking flair when it was needed to add to their two wins over the Bulls this season.
The encounter will go down as another epic semifinal between two massive South African teams, but the reality is now the Bulls have another mountain to climb on Saturday as they head to Dublin to face Irish juggernaut Leinster in what promises to be a massive final.
The Vodacom Bulls are #VURC Grand-finalists for the third time ✅
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 7, 2025
They defeat the Hollywoodbets Sharks and maintain their 100% record in the semi-finals of this competition.#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/rX0ulJxWMQ
Given Leinster’s massive win over Glasgow Warriors earlier in the day, in a scoreline that flatters the losing side, the Bulls will start as massive underdogs when the travel factor is also added.
But what will give the Bulls hope, is the fact they beat Leinster earlier this year, albeit a very much second string side, as well as two semifinal wins in the last three years - one of them in Dublin.
BRUISING ENCOUNTER
And yet on Saturday night the exhaustion of a bruising encounter with the Durban side was very much evident as the Bulls players collapsed to the ground when the final whistle went, partly from fatigue and the battle, and very much from relief.
Because as much as the win means the Bulls will continue their quest to win their maiden title, you have to wonder how much the game took out of them.
The crucial blow that settled the game came in the 67th minute, shortly after Keagan Johannes had missed a penalty that would have taken them more than a score up.
The kickoff threaded its way to Embrose Papier, who - not for the first time in the evening - found a half gap to surge up and offloaded to a flying Cobus Wiese.
Wiese’s 20-metre run downfield were enough to see David Kriel sprint into space and when the inevitable pass came, it was pure glory as Kriel, ignored by the Bok selectors despite exceptional consistency over the past few seasons, swallow-dived over the line.
David Kriel soars over the try line as the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby go one step closer to the Grand Final ✈️@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA pic.twitter.com/W0SpwnYw27
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025
When they were two scores up, it was the Sharks who were desperate, and it wasn’t surprising to see the Bulls’ defence, which had been excellent all night, step up and close the door on the slim hopes the Sharks had of the comeback.
YELLOWS ALMOST COST BULLS VICTORY
Still, when the review is done, a lot of time will be spent on the discipline factor, as the three yellow cards almost cost them any hope of victory.
The cards - the 17th, 18th and 19th of the season, are unacceptable at this level and while it is a high-emotion game where things happen quickly, if they do the same in Dublin they are sure to be punished by Leinster.
Could this be the turning point in this #VURC semi-final?
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 7, 2025
The Vodacom Bulls have another man in the Sin Bin.
📺 Stream on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/y63rwxjHMh
The fact they played 14 minutes with 13 men, and only conceded one try is testament to their defence and the sheer guts that kept them alive.
From David Kriel’s turnover on his own tryline to Jannes Kirsten twisting Ox Nche over the line to hold him up, there were so many moments that will be celebrated by the Bulls when they review the game.
Still, while Harold Vorster was unlucky when he was pinged for playing the ball in a tackle, Cameron Hanekom’s tip tackle on Siya Kolisi could easily have been red, but was probably saved by the fact that a Sharks player had joined and helped the tip happen.
Hanekom was stretchered off when he returned to the field as it seemed he was the victim of an unlucky clean by Kolisi at a ruck, and it is hopeful that the injury is not too serious.
His 2024 test ambitions were ruined by an injury in last season’s final, and it would be horrendous if it happened this season again.
Marcell Coetzee joined the sin bin three minutes later for a collapsed maul, which seemed a bit harsh at the time.
SHARKS TACTICS POOR WHEN BULLS DOWN TO 13
Even though all of this favoured the Sharks, their tactics were poor as they continued to attack the same areas, and failed to use the space they were provided with two Bulls off the field, allowing the Bulls to limp into halftime without any punishment.
It came after a first half where the Bulls scrum showed dominance over the World Cup winners, but almost were punished after their first monster push as Kriel sent the ball into Ethan Hooker’s hands for the winger to go over.
Luckily for the Bulls the TMO adjudged the backline had moved offside before the scrum was over and the try was overturned.
In a flash, the Bulls scored at the other end of the field, as Papier ghosted through a gap, and sent Sebastian de Klerk to weave through three defenders to score.
The Vodacom Bulls land the first blow at Loftus.
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 7, 2025
Sebastian de Klerk finishes off a brilliant move by Embrose Papier.
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/dwoAUVrs21
The Sharks had some chances, but missed kicks by both Jordan and Jaden Hendrikse were costly in the first half and an error became more costly in the 22nd minute as Jaden slipped as he attempted to clear a turnover ball on his own line, grubbering the ball into the hands of De Klerk, who cleverly sent a cross-kick into the hands of Canan Moodie to score in the opposite corner.
What has just happened 😱@BlueBullsRugby score their second of the night with Canan Moodie flying into the corner 🚀@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 before the yellow card madness started.
SHARKS FINALLY FIND RELIEF
The Sharks eventually found some relief early in the second half when the Bulls had to run out of defenders and Makazole Mapimpi went in at the corner.
The front rowers combine to put Mapimpi in the corner 😮💨
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 7, 2025
Intensity is rising as @SharksRugby hit back!@Vodacom #URC | #BULvSHA pic.twitter.com/mYxCjv9IeY
Coetzee had just returned to take them back to 15 when the Sharks scored another in the other corner, with Hooker finally getting his try after sustained pressure.
At 15-13 it looked like this would go down to the wire, but Johannes sent home a beauty of a penalty to make it a five point game and then Kriel put it beyond doubt to give the travel agents some booking work for the final.
Before this game the Bulls had lost four games this season, two of them to the Sharks. And as with their wins over Munster and Glasgow away from home, this will be one that matters to them.
But they will also know it means nothing unless they can defy the odds next 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