The Vodacom Bulls thrashed Munster at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to set up a URC semi-final showdown with the Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield.
Johan Ackermann’s men triumphed 45-14 after leading 31-14 at half-time to make Ruan Nortjé’s 150th match for the Bulls one to remember.
The Bulls last played Glasgow in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals, suffering a 25-21 defeat at Scotstoun. Franco Smith’s table-topping Warriors beat Connacht 33-21 on Friday night.
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The Bulls suffered a blow before kick-off of their quarter-final when Bok tighthead prop Wilco Louw was ruled out due to bronchitis, with Francois Klopper starting and Mornay Smith coming on to the bench. Munster, meanwhile, were without a host of injured frontline players, including flyhalf Jack Crowley.
Klopper played his part in a dominant early Bulls scrum that led to a try to scrumhalf Embrose Papier.
Veteran fullback Willie le Roux then put winger Kurt-Lee Arendse away, with flyhalf Handré Pollard again adding the extras to make it 14-0 after nine minutes.
A moment of magic from Willie le Roux and Kurt-Lee Arendse
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@Vodacom #URC | #BULvMUN pic.twitter.com/ogRJhPOwhR
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) May 30, 2026
To make matters worse for Munster, lock Tom Ahern left the field after taking a head knock, and did not return to the field.
However, the visitors dominated the next period of play and were rewarded when flank Jack O’Donoghue went over from close range at the end of the first quarter.
Pollard kicked a penalty goal, and while Munster scored a converted try to centre Alex Nankivell on the half-hour mark, the Bulls responded with two quick-fire tries through hooker Johan Grobbelaar and No 8 Cameron Hanekom to take a big lead into the break.
Cameron Hanekom is at the end of a perfect Bulls set-piece
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 30, 2026
Any hopes Munster had of a comeback ended in the 54th minute when, after wave of wave of attack inside the Bulls 22, they gifted possession to Papier, who raced away to score his second try.
Munster’s defence is chasing shadows
Emrose Papier with another try for the 2026 highlight reel
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 30, 2026
Winger Stravino Jacobs then dotted down for the Bulls’ sixth, with Pollard’s touchline conversion completing the rout.
BULLS – Tries: Embrose Papier (2), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Stravino Jacobs. Conversions: Handré Pollard (6). Penalty: Pollard.
MUNSTER – Tries: Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Nankivell. Conversions: JJ Hanrahan (2).
Photo: Vodacom Bulls
The post Bulls gore Munster to book semi spot appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Vodacom Bulls thrashed Munster at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to set up a URC semi-final showdown with the Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield.
The post Bulls gore Munster to book semi spot appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
