Bulls stumble as Sharks, Stormers and Lions fly SA flag in URC weekend

REMEMBER the days when we had sports codes for different seasons? Cricket, for example, was for the blazing South African summers, and rugby for the chilling winters. These days, however, with sport going international, that’s no longer the case.

There is year-round rugby and cricket action, and for armchair enthusiasts, that’s worth gold!

This past weekend, as Mzansi barrels on towards summer, South African rugby sides were in action against northern hemisphere teams and met with mixed results.

The Bulls’ overseas tour ended in frustration as they let a winning position slip in Glasgow, while the Sharks, Stormers and Lions all secured morale-boosting United Rugby Championship (URC) victories in a dramatic weekend of action.

Bulls fade after strong start in Glasgow

Johan Ackermann’s Bulls appeared in control of their clash against the Glasgow Warriors when they led 12-7 in the 60th minute, but a costly final quarter saw them fall 21-12 at Scotstoun Stadium.

Having welcomed back Bok forwards Ruan Nortje and Marcell Coetzee, the visitors started with confidence and answered an early try from Glasgow’s Sione Tuipulotu with a slick move that saw Sebastian de Klerk break through and set up Stravino Jacobs for the reply.

They took the lead shortly after half-time when David Kriel intercepted a pass and released Willie le Roux for a well-taken try. But momentum turned sharply when a Kurt-Lee Arendse effort was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up. Minutes later, the referee awarded the Warriors a penalty try after a collapsed maul and sent Bulls replacement prop Francois Klopper to the sin bin.

South African-born prop Nathan McBeth then powered over to seal the result for the Scots, leaving the Bulls to return home with just one win — against Connacht — from their three-match tour.

Sharks grind out first win of the season

In Durban, the Sharks finally broke their winless run with a 29-19 victory over the Scarlets, relying on forward power and Bok experience to secure a much-needed bonus-point result.

All four tries came from their pack, including efforts by Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko and Siya Kolisi. Flyhalf Jean Smith added key conversions and a late penalty as the home side’s physicality told in the second half.

Despite the victory, coach John Plumtree said his team were still far from their best. “There were just moments in the game where it looked like we were going to open them up, and it was either an offload that didn’t quite stick or a pass that wasn’t quite made, so we still look a little like a side that hasn’t gelled properly,” he said.

Plumtree credited the Scarlets’ defensive effort and warned that rhythm will be difficult to maintain during the coming break. “The addition of those big forwards they brought in from last week – obviously Sam Lousi and Jake Ball – added a lot of power to their pack,” he noted. “We looked like we started well, but again we conceded soft tries… So we’re just not accurate enough.”

The Sharks next face Connacht in Ireland at the end of November before beginning their Champions Cup campaign against Toulouse.

Stormers stay unbeaten with comeback win

The Stormers kept their unbeaten record intact with a determined 31-16 win over Benetton in Treviso. Trailing 8-16 at half-time, they produced a composed second-half performance led by flyhalf Jurie Matthee, who contributed 21 points and a try.

Matthee’s accuracy from the kicking tee and his control under pressure turned the tide, while the Stormers’ defence kept the Italian hosts scoreless after the break. It was their first-ever away win over Benetton and a satisfying end to their European tour.

Lions roar back to form at Ellis Park

Up in Johannesburg, the Lions delivered one of the standout results of the round, hammering previously unbeaten Ulster 49-31 at Ellis Park. The hosts ran in six tries in an open, high-tempo contest played in sweltering conditions.

Coach Ivan van Rooyen praised his side’s response after a poor start to the campaign. “The guys played really well today. There was a lot of effort … I think as the game progressed, we got more efficient, our error rate went down,” he said.

Having trailed 19-17 at half-time, the Lions surged ahead through a dominant scrum and relentless forward play. Flank Ruan Venter, replacement Renzo du Plessis and prop Conrad van Vuuren — who scored twice — were among the try scorers in a powerful display that left the Irish side reeling.

Van Rooyen said the result was about more than just points: “We challenged the guys this week and they responded. We knew we had to lift our game because Ulster had beaten two good South African teams in the Bulls and Sharks … I’m more proud of how we did it, the hard work we put in.”

The Lions will carry strong momentum into their next URC outing, a local derby against the Bulls in Pretoria on November 29.