Cheswill Jooste followed up a bench try last week with a hat-trick against Stade Français on Saturday — the highlight being a 20-second opener off kickoff where he beat two defenders with pure pace. His match stats (11 carries, 206 metres, six clean breaks) underline just how dangerous he is, and Ackermann believes there's still significant upside despite some decision-making areas to polish. The bigger story, though, may be Jeandre Rudolph — a 32-year-old who arrived at Loftus last year on a short-term trial deal while contemplating retirement, shed 7kg, and has become a cult favourite. His solo chip-and-chase try on Saturday was the kind of finish that writes itself into lore. With Jacobs, Maart, Abrahams, Williams, Peterson and De Klerk all in the mix, Ackermann is navigating one of the more enviable selection dilemmas in the URC.
Jooste's hat-trick and Rudolph's renaissance give Ackermann a selection headache he loves
Jooste's hat-trick and Rudolph's stunning solo try headlined the Bulls' win over Stade Français — Ackermann's post-match comments reveal how he's thinking about managing a suddenly crowded back three.
- Loftus Versfeld
- Vodacom Bulls
- Jake White
- United Rugby Championship
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.
Bulls dismantle Munster 45-14: Bok depth the difference, Hanekom emerges as Kwagga cover
The Bulls' 45-14 URC quarter-final win over Munster is dissected across five takeaways — Bok depth as the decisive factor, Hanekom's emergence as Kwagga cover, and a frank assessment of Munster's structural decline and McMillan's precarious position.
Bulls land seven signings including Bosch and Abrahams ahead of 2026/27 season
The Bulls have signed seven players for next season, including Springbok fly-half Curwin Bosch from CA Brive on a three-year deal and Thaakir Abrahams from Munster on two years, with Luan Giliomee, Hakeem Kunene, Dylan Maart, Sango Xamlashe and Mawande Mdanda also coming aboard as the club undertakes a major squad overhaul.
Willie le Roux reaches 400 first-class appearances — a career built on vision, not validation
Willie le Roux's 400th first-class appearance is the occasion for a warm but pointed reassessment — De Koning argues the criticism has always missed what coaches and teammates have long understood about his spatial intelligence and leadership value.
Rassie makes contact with Papier as Bulls scrum-half closes in on Joost's appearance record
Rassie Erasmus has been in direct contact with Bulls scrum-half Embrose Papier amid the 29-year-old's standout 2025/26 season, with Papier also set to surpass Joost van der Westhuizen as the Bulls' most-capped number nine against Zebre Parma on Saturday.