Bulls secure hard-fought URC victory over Edinburgh with second-half surge

THE BULLS completed a productive two-week tour of the northern hemisphere with a 19-17 Vodacom United Rugby Championship victory over Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Friday night, backing up their Challenge Cup win against Pau and halting a seven-match losing run.

The result marked the Bulls’ first URC win in Edinburgh and lifted them from 11th to eighth on the standings, following a performance that required patience, defensive resolve and a strong second-half response after early pressure from the hosts.

Edinburgh strike early

Edinburgh made a fast start in wet conditions, with former Bulls wing Duhan van der Merwe opening the scoring after breaking through two defenders to cross for the first try. Ross Thompson missed the conversion.

The Bulls responded six minutes later through a line-out maul, with captain Marcell Coetzee finishing at the back of a driving effort. Handre Pollard was unable to convert, leaving the scores level at 5-5 after 15 minutes.

Edinburgh continued to find momentum, making ground through pick-and-go phases and exploiting space close to the Bulls’ line. Another former Bulls player, prop Pierre Schoeman, scored from close range before tighthead prop D’Arcy Rae crashed over under the posts. 

Thompson converted one of the two tries to give the home side a 17-5 lead, which remained the score at halftime.

Bulls fight back after the break

The Bulls tightened their approach in the second half and struck early when hooker Johan Grobbelaar scored from another maul shortly after the restart. Pollard missed the conversion, but the try reduced the gap and shifted momentum.

As the half progressed, the Bulls spent more time in the Edinburgh half and applied sustained pressure. Their dominance was eventually rewarded when flanker Marco van Staden went over for the decisive try. Pollard added the conversion to put the visitors 19-17 ahead.

The score proved to be the final change, as the Bulls held firm in the closing stages to secure the win.

Key moments and talking points

Van Staden’s try was a significant moment in the match. Referee Gianluca Gnecci initially ruled the grounding held up before referring the decision to the television match official. After reviewing the available angles, the try was awarded.

While the Bulls showed improved control and physicality in the second half, there were areas that remain work-ons. The side struggled at times with line-outs, ball retention at the ruck and converting attacking pressure into points.

Defensively, however, the Bulls produced a strong scramble effort, limiting Edinburgh to three tries despite extended periods under pressure.

The Bulls return to South Africa to face the Lions at Ellis Park before the URC pauses in February for the Six Nations window.

Scorers

Edinburgh — Tries: Duhan van der Merwe, Pierre Schoeman, D’Arcy Rae. Conversion: Ross Thompson.

Bulls — Tries: Marcell Coetzee, Johan Grobbelaar, Marco van Staden. Conversions: Handre Pollard (2).