At Loftus Versfeld, the Ackermann era could hardly have started with more fireworks. The Bulls powered their way to a 53–40 bonus-point victory over the Ospreys in a breathtaking 15-try thriller on Saturday afternoon. 

It was a game that had the Loftus faithful on the edge of their seats, and one that sent a strong message the men from Pretoria are intent on being serious contenders this season.

Things didn’t begin well for the hosts, though. The Ospreys silenced the crowd with two tries in the opening five minutes, as Keelan Giles and Kieran Williams crossed to give the Welsh outfit a shock 12–0 lead. 

The Bulls, however, didn’t panic. Skipper Marcell Coetzee led from the front, barging over twice in quick succession to level the scores.

Cappy!! ??

Marcell Coetzee goes over for the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby first try!@Vodacom #URC I #ExtraordinaryLeague pic.twitter.com/tCAZemdrd6

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) September 27, 2025

Momentum swung again when fullback Devon Williams was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown. Ospreys took full advantage, scoring through Jack Walsh and Williams again to stretch the lead to 26–12. 

But crucially, hooker Johan Grobbelaar dotted down just before the break to keep his side within striking distance at 26–19.

The second half was all Bulls. Grobbelaar completed his hat-trick with two more tries from rolling mauls, and 19-year-old wing Cheswill Jooste lit up Loftus with a brace of his own. 

Jan Serfontein also crossed after a slick offload from Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, while Juann Else muscled over to keep the scoreboard ticking. Veteran Willie le Roux made an instant impact off the bench, flinging a trademark long pass for Jooste’s second.

VURC MAN OF THE MATCH ?? @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #TheUnbreakableLine pic.twitter.com/4dKTTCsihm

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) September 27, 2025

Although Giles grabbed a late consolation for Ospreys, the damage was long done. The Bulls had outscored their visitors nine tries to six, showing a blend of power up front and flair out wide.

Ackermann will be pleased not only with the five log points but also with the statement performance from his pack and the composure shown by his youngsters. 

Grobbelaar’s hat-trick will grab the headlines, but the control and dominance of the Pretoria scrum, particularly in the second half, underpinned the result.

Scorers 

Bulls: Tries – Marcell Coetzee 2, Johan Grobbelaar 3, Cheswill Jooste 2, Jan Serfontein, Juann Else Conv. – Keagan Johannes 4

Ospreys: Tries – Keelan Giles 2, Kieran Williams 2, Jack Walsh, Morgan Morse Conv. – Dan Edwards 5

WJ Steenkamp. Photo: Morgan Piek

If Pretoria was buzzing, Johannesburg fans had a far less cheerful evening. The Lions were reminded the hard way the Currie Cup is not the URC, falling 33–20 to Cardiff at Arms Park.

On a wet night in Wales, the Lions were their own worst enemies. Their one-dimensional attack played right into Cardiff’s hands, while a glut of handling errors and turnovers, well into double figures, repeatedly killed their momentum. 

Their only consistent weapon was the scrum, where they enjoyed dominance, but that advantage was squandered by poor decision-making elsewhere.

Cardiff struck first through Ben Thomas, before fullback Cam Winnett finished off a flowing move to stretch the lead to 14–3. The Lions responded via Ruan Venter’s close-range score, and when flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela added a penalty and conversion, the deficit narrowed to just a point.

Lubabalo Dobela. Photo: Morgan Piek

Thomas was later sent off for a dangerous clear-out, but instead of capitalising, the Lions let the moment slip. WJ Steenkamp’s try from a dominant scrum did briefly give them a 20–14 lead early in the second half, yet it proved short-lived. 

Cardiff regrouped, and with Alex Mann crashing over and replacement hooker Evan Lloyd scoring twice, the home side pulled clear with ruthless efficiency.

By the final whistle, Cardiff had banked five points and the Lions were left ruing what might have been. Coach Ivan van Rooyen’s side will take heart from the set-piece performance, but their lack of creativity and composure under pressure remains a glaring issue.

Scorers 

Cardiff: Tries – Ben Thomas, Cam Winnett, Alex Mann, Evan Lloyd 2 Conv. –Callum Sheedy 4

Lions: Tries – Ruan Venter, WJ Steenkamp Conv. – Lubabalo Dobela 2 Pen. – Dobela 2

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg