Rugby
Bulls and Sharks to battle in all-South African semi-final─── MORGAN PIEK 08:01 Sun, 01 Jun 2025
The Bulls and Sharks have both secured spots in the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship (URC), setting up an all-South African derby that guarantees one local team will contest the final.
On Saturday (31/5), the Bulls booked their place in the semi-finals with a six-try, 42-33 victory over Edinburgh after trailing 21-18 at half-time at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Cameron Hanekom, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Canan Moodie, Keagan Johannes, and Ruan Nortjé all crossed the whitewash in a thrilling performance that kept the Bulls’ hopes alive for a maiden URC title. Johannes also slotted three conversions and added two penalties.
For the Scottish outfit, coached by South African-born Sean Everitt, Wes Goosen and Scotland international Ross Thompson each bagged a brace of tries, while Ewan Ashman also dotted down. Thompson added four conversions.
Determined and dynamic ?
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 31, 2025
Cameron Hanekom crashes over ??
?? Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/jkJQb7veFC
Meanwhile, at the Shark Tank in Durban, drama unfolded in the quarter-final against Irish giants Munster. The match ended in a 24-24 draw, leading to the first-ever penalty shootout in URC knockout history. The Sharks came out on top, booking their first-ever semi-final berth in the competition.
Ethan Hooker, Aphelele Fassi, and Fez Mbatha scored the Sharks’ tries, with Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse adding three conversions and a penalty. Munster responded with tries from Calvin Nash, Joshua Wycherley, and Diarmuid Kilgallen. Jack Crowley converted all three, and veteran Conor Murray added a penalty.
The historic penalty shootout saw the Sharks nail all six of their kicks, while Munster managed only four from five – their second miss proving costly. Replacement scrumhalf Bradley Davids stepped up to slot the decisive sixth penalty, sealing a famous win for the Durban side.
You may not have known Bradley Davids before today ??
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 31, 2025
Bet you definitely know him now ??#SSRugby | #VURC pic.twitter.com/2jn5Z6WhDU
In the other semi-final on Saturday, Leinster beat the Scarlets 33-21 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to set up a clash with Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors.
The semi-finals will take place on Saturday (7/6). Leinster face the Warriors at 15:45 in Dublin, followed by the all-South African clash between the Bulls and Sharks at 18:15 at Loftus Versfeld.
OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg
