The Bulls and Stormers showcased their prowess in a thrilling array of United Rugby Championship derbies this past Saturday, leaving the Lions and Sharks trailing in their wake.
Not only did these victories shatter the Sharks’ and Lions’ early two-match winning streaks, but they also propelled the Bulls and Stormers ahead in the standings, reshaping the competitive landscape.
In a dazzling display at Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls delivered an emphatic 57-15 triumph over the Lions, while the Stormers claimed a decisive 39-22 victory against the Sharks in Cape Town.
These performances resulted in a significant reshuffle in the league table: the Bulls ascended to third, the Stormers followed closely in fourth, both teams amassing 11 points, with the Sharks in fifth place at 10 points, while the Lions fell to seventh with nine points.
At the pinnacle of the table, Edinburgh stands proudly, followed by the Glasgow Warriors, boasting 14 and 13 points respectively.
These teams remain the last undefeated sides after three intense rounds of competition.
As the teams prepare to shift their attention to the prestigious Champions Cup and Challenge Cup next week, they will resume action in the URC in a fortnight, evoking anticipation among fans and players alike.
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Jukskei Derby
In a display of sheer attacking brilliance, the Bulls dismantled the Lions, marking a remarkable 57-15 victory at Loftus Versfeld. From the outset, they seized control of the physical battles and relentlessly applied pressure, ultimately converting their dominance into an impressive nine tries against the visitors’ two.
The defeat was a sobering end for the Johannesburg squad, who had enjoyed a strong start to the URC with back-to-back wins over Leinster and the Ospreys.
It was Harold Vorster who ignited the scoring for Pretoria in the 10th minute, deftly fielding a chip kick.
The Lions responded shortly after, with Siba Qoma pushing over for a maul try that, following a successful conversion, momentarily gave them a 7-5 lead. However, the tide quickly turned in favour of the Bulls as Johan Grobbelaar capitalised on a pick-and-go, intensifying the pressure on the Lions, particularly after Morné van den Berg received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-down during the buildup.
With such fervour in the air, the stage is set for a riveting season in the URC.
The hosts seized the opportunity presented by their numerical advantage, with Cameron Hanekom showcasing his prowess by scoring two rapid tries within a mere six minutes during the second quarter. As halftime approached, Jeandre Rudolph solidified their dominance by crossing the try line for the fifth time, propelling the team to an impressive 31-10 lead.
When the second half commenced, the Pretoria squad continued their relentless pursuit of victory. Canan Moodie punctuated this with a sensational try in the 44th minute, courtesy of a brilliant long pass that stretched the score to 36 points. Yet the Lions responded fiercely; Morné Brandon powered through the Bulls’ defense, scoring from a formidable maul just five minutes later.
From that moment onward, the Bulls asserted their control over the match despite the Lions’ valiant attempts to mount a comeback. JF van Heerden broke through for a try in the 68th minute, right after Cheswill Jooste had a potential score ruled out.
However, Jooste would not be denied for long; he finally secured his own five-pointer in the 74th minute, deftly catching a beautifully executed cross kick. In a thrilling finale, Sebastian de Klerk capped off the scoring after the final whistle, gracefully sidestepping a defender to dive over the line. With his two conversions, the match concluded with a resounding 57-15 victory for the hosts, underlining their supremacy on the day.
Coastal cousins
The Stormers claimed a 39-22 bonus-point win against the Sharks in their first home game of the season.
It was a pulsating match between two teams packed full of Springboks, with the Stormers outscoring the Durban side by six tries to three in the end.
The home side started with intensity and it was not long before they entered the 22. A powerful maul earned advantage before they slung it wide to Seabelo Senatla, who scored in the corner and then celebrated with a Flik Flak somersault made famous by Breyton Paulse.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the touchline conversion but was on target shortly afterwards with a penalty, which came as the result of a strong scrum.
The visitors responded with a try from flank Manu Tshituka and a penalty from replacement Gianni Lombard to level matters at 8-8, but those were to be their last points of the first half.
Two maul tries from the hosts – the first from Hacjivah Dayimani and the second on the stroke of half-time from Andre-Hugo Venter – put them firmly in control at the break with a 22-8 advantage.
The Stormers had the bonus point wrapped up early in the second half as Leolin Zas picked up from the base to dive over after a strong run from Siya Kolisi into the 22.
Dayimani had his second try as a monster scrum walked over the tryline and the No.8 was on hand to dot down and make it a double.
The visitors hit back with a maul try and followed that up with a seven-pointer from Phepsi Buthelezi to cut the Stormers’ lead to 34-22 heading into the last 20 minutes.
The hosts responded with another big maul, as replacement hooker JJ Kotze scored from a line-out drive that started just inside the 22.
