Player ratings - Bulls

OPINION: The Bulls tackled Leinster into submission to reach the United Rugby Championship for a second time.

It is also the second time they beat Leinster in a semifinal – ensuring the powerful and Irish international-laden team lost in the last four for the third successive year.

It was a victory built on brute strength and relentless defence.

Jan de Koning rates the Bulls players!

15 Willie le Roux
He was heavily involved from the outset and produced a masterclass in playmaking, with some sublime tactical kicking. There was a great carry and wrap-around with a great 50-22 kick and just the odd stray pass.
9/10

14 Sergeal Petersen
He was yellow-carded for a ‘deliberate’ knock-on just on the 20-minute mark, which resulted in Leinster’s first try. He made up for it with some great kick-chasing and a crucial try, while chasing and collecting a Papier kick.
7/10

13 David Kriel
He is one of the most underrated midfielders in the country, who doesn’t always get credit for his massive role in the Bulls set-up. He collected all the restarts that came his way. There were also 13 tackles.
7/10

12 Harold Vorster
Produced several powerful carries, continuously attacking the advantage line. Solid on defence, with eight tackles.
7/10

11 Devon Williams
He was steady, without being spectacular and did what was required.
6/10

10 Johan Goosen
From a steady start – with a great angled run for the Bulls’ opening try – he made 70-odd metres with the ball in hand and settled into a great game. Also a sound tactical game, with only the odd error.
7/10

9 Embrose Papier
Crisp service and doing the basics well, occasionally testing the Leinster defence. He did give away a needless penalty and his stats may not look as impressive as some other players, but he played his role in the win superbly.
7/10

8 Cameron Hanekom
Great early steal, building on that start to be one of the team’s most valuable players – making almost 90 metres from his 15 carries. Throw in 15 tackles (second most in the game) and no misses.
9/10

7 Elrigh Louw
Leaving stud marks all over the park with his enormous workrate – a match-high 17 tackles, with 60-odd metres from nine carries.
8/10

6 Marco van Staden
Gave away a silly penalty that had his team’s first try scratched, but worked hard to make up for his brain fade.
7/10

5 Ruan Nortje (captain)
Great reads on defence – collecting a chip-kick that had trouble written all over it. He is also maturing as a captain.
8/10

4 Ruan Vermaak
Settling into his role as Nortje’s second row partner and while he was not as spectacular as his captain, he had a good day at the office.
7/10

3 Wilco Louw
His powerful scrumming laid the foundation for the Bulls’ set-piece dominance and was certainly not always rewarded by the referee.
7/10

2 Johan Grobbelaar
Showed why he is in the Springbok picture, with a solid first-half performance. Maybe he still needs to mature, but certainly one for the future.
7/10

1 Gerhard Steenekamp
One of the most underrated scrummagers in the country and made most of his tackles.
6/10

Replacements:

16 Akker van der Merwe (on for Grobbelaar, 40 min)
Not flawless, with two missed tackles, but did not let the team down – making some strong carries.
6/10

17 Simphiwe Matanzima (on for Steenekamp, 59 min)
His defensive work certainly requires some work, but he is becoming a valued asset.
6/10

18 Francois Klopper (on for Louw, 60 min)
Maybe his workrate can improve, but nine tackles in a 20-minute cameo says a lot about his future in Pretoria.
7/10

19 Reinhardt Ludwig (on for Vermaak, 64 min)
The perfect player to come off the bench – making all his tackles in those decisive last 15 minutes.
7/10

20 Nizaam Carr (on for Van Staden, 60 min)
He showed some sublime touches, including a crucial kick ahead, at a time when Leinster looked to be getting the upperhand. Also made all his tackles.
7/10

21 Keagan Johannes
Not used.

22 Chris Smith
Not used.

23 Cornel Smit (on for Le Roux, 55 min)
Not bad for a rookie on debut, stepping in admirably for the veteran, two-times World Cup winner.
7/10

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