2025 Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks - Semifinal

Battle For Supremacy | Bulls Host Sharks In Crunch URC Semifinal Showdown

Battle For Supremacy | Bulls Host Sharks In Crunch URC Semifinal Showdown

The Bulls host the Sharks in a high-stakes URC semifinal at Loftus, with a Grand Final spot and national pride on the line in this all-South African derby.

Jun 6, 2025 by Philip Bendon
Battle For Supremacy | Bulls Host Sharks In Crunch URC Semifinal Showdown

The stage is set for a titanic all-South African semifinal in Pretoria, as the Vodacom Bulls welcome the Hollywoodbets Sharks to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening. 

With a place in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final up for grabs, one thing is guaranteed: a South African team once again will fight for the URC crown as they look to add to the Stormers' crown from Season 1.

And if history is anything to go by, this one could go down to the wire. 

These two sides know each other intimately, and they know how to produce drama. 

Fans will remember their epic URC quarterfinal in 2022, where the Bulls edged the Sharks 30-27 thanks to a last-minute drop goal from Chris Smith. That match, played in front of over 22,000 spectators during COVID restrictions, was deadlocked at halftime and full-time, and kept everyone on the edge of their seats.

This time, the Bulls enter the clash with eight consecutive wins behind them, while the Sharks arrive fresh from a grueling, emotionally charged 100-minute slugfest against Munster in Durban — a match they eventually won via a dramatic penalty shootout.

Jake White, director of rugby at the Bulls, has made only one change to the side that beat Edinburgh, recalling Johan Goosen at fly-half and moving Keagan Johannes to the bench. 

"He [Goosen] is ready. It’s like he hasn’t been away," White said. "You need your best players fit and ready at these end-of-season games. It’s good having him back as our No. 1, and we’ve got Keagan, who did well for us, on the bench. I have no doubt he will settle in quickly."

White has a deep respect for the Sharks and acknowledged the threat they pose. 

“They play well in big games," he said. "Whether it’s the Challenge Cup final or any other big game, they’ve played well. I don’t think it is going to be easy, not for one minute. They’ve beaten us twice this year. There’s a reason they beat us – they’ve got a good team. 

"I’m expecting it to be as tough as it can be, and we have to make sure we play as well as we can. And I have no doubt, if we play as well as we can, we can beat them.”

Starting well will be key, but White admits that’s easier said than done. 

“That’s the one recipe coaches wish they could buy," White added. "Every coach says they want a flying start and want to put them under pressure. There is no secret ingredient or magic wand for that. 

"Last week, we started poorly, and we had to catch up. We learned a lesson from the previous Edinburgh game because we were down 24-7 in that game, too. And part of rugby, which is never going to change, is that you need to learn from the situations you are in. And that’s why teams that play together for so long become so much better.”

Bulls captain Ruan Nortje likened the buildup to a test week, stressing the intensity of playoff rugby. 

“Whenever we get into playoffs, we always try to get ourselves in the headspace of test-match level preparation," Nortje said. "Last week, we had the same mentality, and this week again, it’s the same.”

He admitted the derby element added an extra edge. 

“It’s just a South African derby, it adds a bit more fuel and tension, and excitement," Nortje added. "We must ensure we get our game plan ready and that we’re mentally ready.

“The Sharks have proven themselves in the last few games. They’ll come with a lot of confidence that they’ve earned. It’s all about mentally being switched on from minute one. 

"This weekend is going to be very important for us to make sure we don’t get any of those 20- or 10-minute lapses in the game. It’s all going to be mental.”

Nortje also highlighted the Sharks’ scrummaging dominance as a key threat. 

“The Sharks were brilliant scrum-wise last weekend," he added. "I think that’s a massive part of what brought them to the end of that game, so I must give them credit for that, and for the whole front row. It’s going to be a massive set-piece battle. 

"We can only prepare as well as we can and make sure we’re ready when Saturday comes. We just have to be composed and make swift changes on the field; be ready for anything, and expect anything.”

The Sharks have had to deal with serious injury setbacks, with Springbok enforcers Eben Etzebeth and Jason Jenkins ruled out. 

Coach John Plumtree confirmed Corné Rahl and Emile van Heerden would step up in the second row, while Siya Kolisi assumes the captaincy.

“Eben is probably the best lock in the world, so it’s a big loss, but the thing is it’s a team game; one person doesn’t make this team, and we’ve won games without him this year,” Plumtree said. “Jason is a big loss for us, too. He played a pivotal role for us, with Eben being out for so much; he’s played at four, and he’s played at five. It’s disappointing not to see him in the Springbok squad at the moment as well. I think he deserves to be there.”

Despite the disruptions, Plumtree said the energy and focus in the squad remained high. 

“Big games like this, it’s often your easiest week as a coach; the players are all excited about the opportunity," Plumtree  said. "We have to lighten the load a lot around our preparation based on what happened last weekend, but they’re feeling good.”

On the Bulls and the expected battle up front, Plumtree was clear.

“Yeah, not just front-foot ball but also the psychological battle, and that’s what it’s all about, these big contests," he said. "[The Bulls] are not just a scrummaging team, they’re a good set-piece team, particularly at Loftus. These are big derby games, aren’t they? 

"The Sharks-Bulls game at Loftus — everyone in Durban, I’d say, will be watching that game of rugby because it’s based on the contests, what contests there have been over the years, and there’s been some great contests.”

Kolisi, ever the pragmatist, summed up the mood.

“No matter how the win comes, as long as it comes, I don’t mind, if it’s dramatic or not dramatic. We just want to win," Kolisi said.

Saturday’s semifinal marks the Bulls’ second consecutive URC home semifinal and the Sharks’ first at this stage. 

Interestingly, the Sharks’ two victories over the Bulls during the league campaign account for half of the Pretoria side’s losses all season. One of those, a 10-point win, came at Loftus, which remains the Bulls’ only home defeat this year. Since then, they’ve gone on a six-match home winning streak.

Statistically, the Bulls have been stronger in attack and defense, scoring 124 more points and conceding 32 fewer than the Sharks this season. But past results have shown that stats count for little when these two collide. 

With altitude in play and both sides stacked with Springboks, this semifinal has all the ingredients of a South African classic. Bulls by 5.

Team Rosters

Vodacom Bulls

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ruan Nortje (Captain), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams.

Hollywoodbets Sharks

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Siya Kolisi (Captain), 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne’ Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Jurenzo Julius, 23 Yaw Penxe.

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