The Vodacom Bulls provided more evidence they have turned a massive corner in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship season as they produced a dominant performance to beat the Hollywoodbets Sharks 41-12 in a one-sided derby on Saturday afternoon.
The game was delayed for 15 minutes because of a thunderstorm on the highveld, but the Sharks would have been hoping it was delayed entirely as they failed to pitch, couldn’t handle the Bulls’ pace and power and were made to look second rate for most of the game.
JP Pietersen confirmed his job with the team through two big wins over the DHL Stormers, but those feel in the distant past as his side was beaten by a Bulls side that scored seven tries to two and compounded the Sharks issues for the season.
The Vodacom Bulls make a statement at Loftus 🐂🔵#VURC | #SSRugby pic.twitter.com/iyqzkLxy7f
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) February 28, 2026
The Bulls sit pretty in eighth spot with a game in hand with several games still to come at their home base, but the Sharks now are in a precarious spot that they have six games left and may need to win all of those just to qualify for the top eight of the URC.
It is hardly the return their big-spending bosses would have wanted, and they would not have been inspired by another flat performance where they were passive on defence and allowed the Bulls to dictate the game throughout.
ONE-SIDED PERFORMANCE
This was billed as a heavyweight performance, but on the evidence on the field, it looked like a former champ past his prime going up against a faster, younger upstart that ran rings around him all night.
After their seven losses in a row just after coach Johan Ackermann took over the side, their three gritty wins away from home provided the basis that the side had truly turned things around.
A 50-point win at Ellis Park, followed by this exceptional victory at home and Bulls fans will start to believe again.
They still need to negotiate the Stormers in their north-south derby in a fortnight, but right now the Bulls will go into that game with a lot of confidence and several of their big names in good form.
PAPIER AND VORSTER STAR
While Embrose Papier won his second straight man of the match award, the standout player was Harold Vorster, who scored twice as well and provided an assist for Papier’s first try to cap an excellent game all round.
He was aided well by the likes of Sebastian de Klerk, whose competitive nature and tryline hunger saw him add his name to the scoresheet, while there were some exceptional performances by Canan Moodie, David Kriel (starring at 15 where he should play more), Bok lock Ruan Nortje and captain Marcell Coetzee.
In fact, it was hard to find a Bulls player who didn’t have a good game, and even though Handre Pollard’s kicking at posts was a bit off on the night, he had a solid game all round and contributed to at least two tries.
LITTLE FOR SHARKS TO CELEBRATE
The Sharks had little to celebrate, and were intent on leaving much of the work to their battering ram Andre Esterhuizen, who was class all round, while the loss of Jaden Hendrikse during the game also hit them hard.
But in every department they were outclassed on the day, with the Bulls racing to a 22-0 lead at the break and a bonus point in hand before the thunderstorm had bothered any neighbouring municipalities.
The Bulls may have needed a bit of luck for their first try, but it signalled their intent and rocked the Sharks as it was perhaps a metaphor for what was about to come.
A blindside break by Vorster, who changed course infield to move past Makazole Mapimpi provided the perfect pass for Moodie, who chipped ahead and was beaten in the chase, save for the fact that Jordan Hendrikse stumbled and took out a chasing Tino Mavesere in the process, allowing Moodie to pounce and claim the try amid a bundle of fallen Shark bodies.
Canan Moodie with a banger for the Bulls 🐂🔵
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) February 28, 2026
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/811wSKeHaB
If that wasn’t enough, a try before and after the half hour mark put the Bulls into overdrive.
POLLARD CHIP SETS UP DE KLERK TRY
A stolen lineout by Nortje in the Bulls 22, a chip by Pollard over the defence to collect and some heavy forwards smashing upfield had the Sharks on their heels.
Pollard was there to deliver the cross kick to De Klerk, who deftly stepped inside Mapimpi and then put on the afterburners to score.
Four minutes later another stolen lineout saw Vorster break upfield through the middle of the ruck, finding no defence and steaming ahead, passed to a flying Papier to score with ease.
Pollard’s chip was mimicked by De Klerk a few minutes later, collecting and sending Papier over for his second try untouched. The Sharks were dazed and out on their feet. The Bulls had a bonus point and a 22-0 lead.
Sebastian de Klerk 🤝 Embrose Papier
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) February 28, 2026
The Bulls speedsters turn on the afterburners 🐂💨
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/1Xt42ZK0oE
SHARKS TRIES GAVE THEM HOPE
The second half gave the Sharks some hope. Bulls mistakes kept them pinned in their own half and penalties gave the Sharks a look in.
Their first foray into the red zone ended with Vincent Tshituka drawing two defenders before delivering a chicken wing pass to Edwill van der Merwe to send the Springbok winger over. The Sharks were finally on the board.
Another Bulls mistake cost them a try. A knock-on in their half led to a scrum penalty and the Sharks into a five metre lineout. The maul and pick and drives were effective enough for Hanro Jacobs to get over and put his side into double figures.
That woke the Bulls up from their slumber and they thundered downfield. Pollard had enough momentum for a half break and enough space to put Vorster away for his first try to shift the scoreline back to the Bulls again.
NEVER LOOKED BACK
And they never looked back. A superb sidestep from a lineout ball gave Paul de Wet a try as a substitute and even when Jason Jenkins hoped to give the Sharks scoreline some respectability when he crashed over near the end, it was called back for a forward pass.
Vorster added his second a minute from the end to complete a superb win for the Bulls and send the Sharks back to the drawing board.
Vodacom Bulls - tries: Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier (2), Sebastian de Klerk, Harold Vorster (2), Paul de Wet. Conversions: Handre Pollard (3)
Hollywoodbets Sharks - tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Hanro Jacobs. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse.