Key moments from the Bulls’ thrilling URC semi-final against the Sharks

There will be some sore bodies in both camps as the Bulls and Sharks contested a nail-biting United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final on Saturday in Pretoria where the hosts clinched a 25-13 victory.

Despite copping yellow cards, three in total, the Bulls’ defensive effort right before halftime and towards the end of the game, carried them through. And, importantly, they took their opportunities when they came along to score the winning points.

Independent Media looks at five key moments from the clash at Loftus Versfeld.

A chalked-off early try

The Sharks looked to have started brilliantly in the opening 10 minutes when winger Ethan Hooker intercepted a pass after the Bulls put up a devastating scrum. That try would’ve gotten the visitors off to the perfect start.

Instead, the try was cancelled after the Sharks were adjudicated to be offside and not retreating as their scrum moved backwards. That was a monster Bulls scrum and the intervention from the television match official saved them from a try.

Two penalties later and the Bulls strike

That offside penalty at the scrum changed the game for the Bulls. From the resulting lineout after they cleared with a kick, they won another penalty and set up the lineout again, crucially, this time around, it was inside the Sharks’ half.

Scrumhalf Embrose Papier broke away from the second lineout and hit a gap brilliantly to send winger Sebastian de Klerk away for the opening points. That intercept scare and the eventual try at the other side of the field sparked the home side to life.

Three yellow cards made it a contest

While they found their rhythm after that early scare, some discipline issues almost cost the Bulls badly on the night. Harold Vorster, Cameron Hanekom and Marcell Coetzee found themselves in the naughty chair at a time when the side could not afford it.

They were dominating but gave the Sharks a sniff playing with 13 and 14 players shortly before and right after halftime. How the visitors did not capitalise on the yellow cards is still a mystery and they should have done more to put the Bulls under pressure.

A top defensive effort

While it was not ideal to receive those yellow cards shortly after each other, the way the defence dug in and galvanised right before halftime underscored the Bulls’ defensive prowess and their championship credentials.

Prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels was at the helm of a massive tackle on his try line to keep the ball up after it looked like the Sharks were going to score when the Bulls were down to 13 right before the break.

The try that sealed it

After missing a penalty kick, from the resulting kick-restart, the Bulls scored the try that sealed a consecutive finals berth for them. Papier broke the defensive line again, as he did in the first half, and handed the ball to lock Cobus Wiese.

The lanky forward ran a brilliant support line and took the gap before handing the ball to centre David Kriel who went over with a swallow dive. That try, with 13 minutes left, sealed the victory for the Bulls.