Johan Ackermann was pleased with the scoreline but honest about the structural problems that crept in during the first half — a spell where the Bulls conceded possession to the point where Stade Français held 62% of the ball around the 35-minute mark despite trailing on the board. Ackermann pinpoints second-half execution as the real catalyst for the blowout, with 35 unanswered points after the break. Cheswill Jooste's hat-trick and a perfect night with the boot from Pollard helped paper over the cracks, but Ackermann's message was clear: teams arriving at Loftus need to be made to work harder than Stade Français were in that opening period. He also used the match as a squad rotation exercise — handing debuts to Luan Giliomee (recently arrived from the Sharks) and Sango Xamlashe, both of whom played 80 minutes and earned positive reviews, with Xamlashe flagged as particularly solid defensively.
Ackermann flags first-half sloppiness despite Bulls' 56-20 Champions Cup demolition
A comfortable Champions Cup opener for the Bulls, but Ackermann isn't satisfied — his post-match breakdown reveals a deliberate focus on the first-half possession problems that let Stade Français hang around, and explains the rotation thinking that handed two players their full debuts.
- Vodacom Bulls
- Handré Pollard
- Loftus Versfeld
- Hollywoodbets Sharks
Erasmus explains Papier recall after eight-year Springbok absence
Rassie Erasmus has recalled Embrose Papier to the Springbok squad for Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, citing the scrumhalf's standout URC season with the Bulls. Papier will start alongside Handré Pollard, eight years after the pair last combined for the Boks against the same opponents at Murrayfield.
Hanekom's Springbok return sweeter after career-threatening injury scare
Cameron Hanekom earned his second Springbok cap against England after overcoming a career-threatening hamstring injury, stepping into the starting XV at late notice following the pre-match withdrawals of Kolisi and Etzebeth.
Why Porthen over Louw is smarter than it looks
Porthen's tighthead bench selection over Louw comes down to scrumming form in camp, a mobility match-up against England's younger side, and Louw needing time to recover from a bruising personal and physical stretch — Nel breaks down Erasmus's full selection logic, including the Libbok call and the lockless bench.
Kolbe's kicking arm eases Rassie's flyhalf headache
Kolbe's kicking form against the Barbarians gives Erasmus a safety net that softens the flyhalf selection dilemma — Rich breaks down what the Gqeberha weekend really revealed ahead of England on 4 July.
White: This Bulls squad is better equipped — and they know they can't waste this chance
Jake White makes a personnel-driven case for a Bulls upset on Friday, pointing to five returning Test-calibre starters as the difference from last year's final — while urging the squad to treat this as the chance they may not get again.