Planet Rugby's player ratings from the Bulls' 22-21 semi-final win over Glasgow put Embrose Papier and Cameron Hanekom at the top of the class — both earning 8s. Papier's try on the restart, combined with his constant threat at the fringes, draws the familiar Rassie-selector framing, while Hanekom's all-round display (37 metres, two turnovers, and a moment of brilliance that set up Klopper's try) underlines his case as one of South African rugby's most complete loose forwards right now. Grobbelaar's 80-minute shift — 16 tackles, a crucial ruck penalty and a try — also stands out. The headline concern is Pollard, rated a 4: a sin-bin that gifted Glasgow 14 points and three missed penalties in a row nearly cost the Bulls the match. The ratings frame his performance as the one blemish on what was otherwise a composed Bulls comeback from 21-3 down.
Papier and Hanekom shine, but Pollard's costly night almost derails Bulls' URC final march
Papier and Hanekom earn 8s as the standouts in a Bulls comeback win that nearly unravelled thanks to Pollard's sin-bin and a string of missed penalties — Planet Rugby's player ratings break down who delivered and who didn't in a tense semi-final.
Rassie backs Pollard through Bulls slump — but the pressure is real
Erasmus is publicly backing Pollard through his Bulls slump, but with Libbok in form, Feinberg-Mngomezulu out, and Moyo now in the mix, the piece argues the pressure on Pollard ahead of the international season is more acute than the coach's measured words let on.
Bulls vs Leinster: Can Ackermann's Side Finally Break the Final Curse?
Erasmus points the Bulls to the Stormers' semifinal blueprint as Rugby365 previews Friday's URC Final, with full lineups, key matchup breakdowns, and a Leinster-by-six prediction.
Erasmus: winning stays non-negotiable, whatever the World Cup build-up demands
Erasmus has made his 2025 season intent explicit: rotation and World Cup-building happen inside a framework where winning remains the non-negotiable baseline. The piece breaks down what that means for squad management, the veterans' standing, and why the All Blacks series carries extra weight.
Bulls overturn 18-point deficit to edge Glasgow 22-21 and reach URC final
The Bulls came back from 3-21 down to beat Glasgow Warriors 22-21 at Murrayfield, with tries from Johan Grobbelaar, Embrose Papier and Francois Klopper sealing a place in the URC final.
Bulls overturn 18-point deficit to stun Glasgow and reach URC final
The Bulls came back from 21-3 down to beat Glasgow Warriors 22-21 in their URC semifinal at Murrayfield, with tries from Grobbelaar, Papier and Klopper securing a place in the final.