Player ratings: Bulls
OPINION: The Bulls will head to Dublin for the first United Rugby Championship Final to be played outside South Africa.
They beat the Sharks 25-13 in a semifinal in front of more than 47, 000 Loftus Versfeld spectators on Saturday.
While the hard work was done up front, the damage was done out wide by the players with the double digits on their backs.
The big concern for the men in blue will by their discipline, with three yellow cards to go with the 16 yellow cards and four reds cards they received earlier in the season.
@king365ed rates the Bulls players!
15 Willie le Roux
He kept coming up in the playmaker role, especially in general play and was effective in that role. It was not a flawless performance, but he remains invaluable to the team.
6/10
14 Canan Moodie
He was great in the air and out wide, with some good reads on defence. Moodie – caused plenty of trouble for the Sharks.
8/10
13 David Kriel
He was physical and solid on defence. Won a crucial turnover penalty near his line, while his team was down to 13 players. He also scored a match-winning try.
7/10
12 Harold Vorster
His hands let him down on occasion and was yellow-carded for a cynical foul.
6/10
11 Sebastian de Klerk
His best game in a Bulls jersey. His seven carries delivered more than 100 metres and there was a sublime finish for the first try. He also set up a try for Moodie with a sublime crossfield kick and delivered some massive hits on defence.
9/10
10 Johan Goosen
Overeager and conceding a penalty, while judgement also let him down on occasion. He looked short of a gallop after a lengthy injury layoff.
6/10
9 Embrose Papier
His service could have been more consistent. Started crisp and on point, butc at times was much too slow. He was penalised for his constant delays.
7/10
8 Cameron Hanekom
Hard work on defence, but yellow-carded for a tip tackle. He was injured early in the second half – suffering a hamstring strain in a cleanout.
6/10
7 Ruan Nortje (captain)
Growing into the role of a blindside flank. He had 10, two offloads, a match-high 25 tackles and literally bled for the cause.
8/10
6 Marcell Coetzee
He was yellow-carded for collapsing a maul, but still one of the Bulls’ most valuable forwards. Also made 10 carries and 18 tackles.
7/10
5 JF van Heerden
He was an unsung hero – doing the hard yards and dirty work. His 16 tackles were only beaten by teammates Ruan Nortje, Cobus Wiese and Marcell Coetzee.
7/10
4 Cobus Wiese
His work on and off the ball was from the top shelf, while his run and offload for David Kriel’s crucial try was a match decider.
7/10
3 Wilco Louw
He destroyed Ox Nche in several scrums and had a very productive first half.
8/10
2 Johan Grobbelaar
His line-outs need to improve and his workrate outside of defence was also not what you would expect from a player who wants to challenge for a place in the national team.
6/10
1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Not just in the scrums, but a monster on defence. Produced another try-saving tackle over his line.
7/10
Replacements:
16 Akker van der Merwe (on for Grobbelaar – 53rd minute)
First line-out blown up for a skew throw and had moments of involvement, but not a massive imp[act.
6/10
17 Alulutho Tshakweni (on for Wessels – 53rd minute)
Had his moments, and made a handful of tackles.
5/10
18 Mornay Smith (on for Louw – 59th min)
Was solid in the scrums, although he was penalised in the first set piece. Otherwise very quiet.
5/10
19 Jannes Kirsten (on for Nortje 36th to 40th min; for Wiese 73rd min_)
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Marco van Staden (on for Hanekom – 48th min)
Made an immediate impact at the breakdown, winning a crucial penalty.
6/10
21 Izak Burger (on for Papier – 73rd min)
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Keagan Johannes (on for Goosen – 53rd min)
Brought the calmness that Goosen lacked, although his goalkicking requires work. 0
6/10
23 Devon Williams (on for De Klerk – 70th min)
Not enough time to be rated.
@king365ed
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