The Bulls' returning Springboks made an immediate impact as the hosts dismantled the Lions 57-15 at Loftus, ending any notion the visitors could replicate their shock win there last November. Grobbelaar and Steenekamp dominated the tight exchanges from the start, while Hanekom was the standout performer across the park — two tries, 76 metres gained, nine tackles, and a man-of-the-match award built on a 20-minute spell during which the Lions were reduced to 14 men after Van den Berg's yellow card effectively broke the game open. Van Staden, Wiese, Louw, and Pollard all reinforced the dominance after coming off the bench. For the Lions, a promising start to the URC season — back-to-back wins over Leinster and the Ospreys — has run headlong into a reality check, compounded by a string of self-inflicted errors. With a Champions Cup trip to La Rochelle next up, Ivan van Rooyen's side have serious questions to answer quickly.
Returning Boks power Bulls to 57-15 demolition of Lions at Loftus
The Bulls' returning Springboks, led by a dominant Hanekom, tore the Lions apart 57-15 at Loftus — the piece breaks down how the game turned, who shone, and what the Lions' heavy defeat means heading into a tough Champions Cup assignment.
- Vodacom Bulls
- Springboks
- Emirates Lions
- Loftus Versfeld
- Handré Pollard
- Ivan van Rooyen
- United Rugby Championship
Steyn backs Smith as SA's best flyhalf — and wants Erasmus to notice
Steyn names Chris Smith the best flyhalf in South Africa and flags his Bok omission as a missed opportunity, while the Lions coaching staff acknowledge they need sharper execution against Leinster's linespeed in their URC quarterfinal.
What Bordeaux's Champions Cup demolition of Leinster means for SA's URC finals hopes
Rich uses Bordeaux's physical demolition of Leinster as a lens on SA's URC finals prospects — arguing the Stormers cost themselves and their SA counterparts dearly by failing to secure second place, while flagging a scrumhalf depth problem that extends beyond the URC and straight into Erasmus's Bok planning.
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.
The Lekker Rugby Pod: Has the URC Forged a Genuine SA-Ireland Rivalry?
Pat McCarry argues the URC has given the SA-Ireland rugby rivalry genuine club-level roots, with MVA predicting a Bulls-Stormers final at Loftus and McCarry warning the Lions and Connacht are the teams no one wants to face in the playoffs.
Overseas tests will separate SA contenders from pretenders in URC run-in
The Bulls' ugly win in Llanelli is a timely lesson for the Lions and Stormers: SA sides' overseas nerve, not their home brilliance, will decide where they play in the URC knockouts.