Bulls and Sharks book semi-final showdown after dramatic Vodacom URC quarter-finals

South Africa’s hopes of clinching the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) title remain alive after a weekend filled with nail-biting drama, dazzling attacking rugby, and high-stakes finishes.

The Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks emerged as the nation's last standing teams after both sides clinched memorable quarter-final wins to secure a mouth-watering all-South African semi-final clash in Pretoria next Saturday.

Loftus Awaits SA Derby After Bulls Beat Edinburgh

The  Bulls turned on the power at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening, overcoming a shaky start to overpower Edinburgh 42-33 in a thrilling contest that saw a total of 11 tries scored.

The men from Pretoria found themselves trailing 21-18 at halftime but produced a strong second-half performance, with standout tries from Canan Moodie, Keagan Johannes, and Ruan Nortje within 11 minutes of the restart swinging the momentum in their favour. Springbok No.8 Cameron Hanekom set the tone early on with a bulldozing try, while David Kriel and Harold Vorster added key five-pointers to keep their side in the contest before the break.

Despite Edinburgh’s relentless effort, including two tries from Ross Thompson and another from Wes Goosen, the Bulls held their nerve and capitalised on Edinburgh's yellow card with clinical game management to seal the win.

“We made it tough for ourselves in the first half, but I’m proud of how the boys responded. It’s a massive opportunity to play a semi at home, and we’re not taking it for granted,” said Bulls captain Ruan Nortje.

Sharks Survive Penalty Shootout Thriller Against Munster

Earlier in the day, the Sharks delivered arguably the most dramatic performance of the tournament so far, edging defending champions Munster 6-4 in a penalty shootout after the game ended 24-24 following 100 minutes of rugby.

It was the first time a Vodacom URC match was decided by a shootout, and the Sharks held their composure. Twenty-one-year-old Bradley Davids, who had been impressive throughout the season, calmly slotted the final kick to spark wild celebrations at Kings Park.

“It was surreal,” Davids said after the match. “You grow up dreaming of moments like this, and to do it in front of our home fans for a semi-final spot, it’s unbelievable.”

The Sharks had every chance to win the game in regular time but struggled with execution inside Munster’s 22. Despite dominating possession and territory, they trailed 7-0 at halftime. Second-half tries from Ethan Hooker, Aphelele Fassi, and Fez Mbatha turned the tide, but a late penalty by Conor Murray tied things up, setting up a rollercoaster finish.

The deadlock persisted through extra time, with neither side able to land a decisive blow. When the moment came, the Sharks’ kickers, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, and Davids, were flawless, sending the team into their first-ever URC semi-final.

Stormers’ Hopes Crushed in Glasgow

It wasn’t a clean sweep for the South African teams, however. The DHL Stormers faltered in Glasgow, crashing out of the competition with a 36-18 loss to the defending champions, the Glasgow Warriors.

The Capetonians started brightly and took a 3-0 lead via a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty, but an early yellow card to Seabelo Senatla and the concussion-enforced exit of captain Salmaan Moerat disrupted their rhythm.

Senatla did his best to ignite the Stormers with two tries, one in each half, but a litany of handling errors and poor defence (missing over 20% of their tackles) allowed Glasgow to run in five tries. Kyle Rowe’s brace and additional tries from Rory Darge, Henco Venter, and George Horn ensured a convincing win for the hosts.

Stormers coach John Dobson admitted his side had been their own worst enemy: “Too many mistakes, too many missed tackles. Against a team like Glasgow, that will always hurt you.”

Semi-Final Line-Up Set

With the quarter-finals now complete, the stage is set for two blockbuster semi-final showdowns:

• Leinster vs Glasgow Warriors Saturday, 3.45pm SA time, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
• Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks Saturday, 6.15pm, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

The Bulls will enjoy home-ground advantage thanks to their second-place finish in the regular season, but they’ll need to tighten up their discipline and defence to counter a Sharks side brimming with confidence and momentum.

What’s at Stake?

For the Bulls, this is a chance to avenge past near-misses and finally clinch the URC crown. For the Sharks, it’s an opportunity to break new ground after years of building and rebuilding. One thing is certain: a South African team will be in the URC Grand Final this year.

And that, for rugby fans across the country, is cause for celebration.

Stay tuned for more URC build-up and coverage as South African rugby continues to make waves on the global stage.