URC Semifinal: Glasgow Warriors v Bulls - Teams and Prediction
PREVIEW: Glasgow Warriors have become a defining presence in the United Rugby Championship knockout stages, and Saturday marks their third consecutive semifinal appearance.
That is a clear signal of a side built for this stage of the competition. The Warriors reached the final four in both 2024 and 2025, famously powering past Munster in Limerick on their way to lifting the 2023/24 title before falling just short of another final last season.
Their record underlines that consistency. Across twelve URC semifinal appearances, Glasgow have repeatedly shown they belong among the elite, with only two home defeats at this stage of the competition – against the Scarlets in 2018 and Ulster in 2003 – highlighting just how rarely they are overcome on their own turf when the stakes rise.
Yet they are not alone in proven pedigree. The Bulls arrive with their own perfect semifinal record in the URC, having won both of their previous appearances at this stage and gone on to reach the final each time.
The Warriors have fond memories of playing at Scottish Gas Murrayfield and will be aiming to continue that tradition this weekend.
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Papier rewarded with prestigious URC awardhttps://t.co/802vmPGVap
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With two of the competition’s most consistent teams meeting for a place in the decider, the numbers and recent history point towards a fiercely contested encounter in the Scottish capital.
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann expects that the semifinal will be decided by “small margins”, warning that Glasgow Warriors punish any lapse in discipline or accuracy.
“There’s going to be a lot of pressure on everything,” Ackermann said. “If you exit, how well do you exit? If you attack, how well do you look after the ball? They’ve got world-class back rowers, a full Scotland basically team.
“So, it’s going to be small margins, and those are the things we’ve learned from those games. A clinical side and a quality side.”
He highlighted Glasgow’s ability to turn mistakes into points, particularly in key areas of the field. “If you give them those easy entries into your half, like knocking on full kick-offs, they’re probably going to get away with points if they’ve got a scrum or a line-out in your 22.”
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Ackermann also praised the impact of prop Francois Klopper, who was thrust into the starting XV in the quarterfinal win over Munster after Wilco Louw fell ill last weekend, describing his performance as a key moment in the Bulls’ campaign.
Which is why he got the nod to feature in the semifinal ahead of the now fully recovered Louw.
“Kloppies has really come through this season. I think it’s on his performances. I felt he did his part in the games when we didn’t have access to Wilco. Even when Wilco was ill, Klopper showed he can perform well. So, we just felt it’s good to keep that momentum going. He’s match fit and ready to go.”
“It’s a moral reward for Kloppies for how he’s performed,” Ackermann added, noting that the squad still has the experience of Louw available from the bench to finish the contest if required.
Glasgow coach Franco Smith made just one change to his starting line-up, bringing in Gregor Hiddleston at hooker.
Scrumhalf George Horne managed to recover in time for the semifinal after injuring his hand last weekend.
There are three changes to the replacements, including a return to action for Jamie Dobie, who is set for his first appearance in Glasgow colours since January after recovering from an injury sustained in Scotland’s Calcutta Cup victory over England.
Commenting on his team selection, Smith said: “We know how strong of a challenge the Bulls will pose tomorrow afternoon – they are serial contenders at the business end of the season, have one of the deepest squads in the competition, and will bring a highly physical game plan that we will need to be at our best to meet.
“Both George and Jamie have worked hard with our medical and physio teams this week to put themselves in the best position possible ahead of tomorrow, with both men eager to give their all for this team.
“We look forward to representing not just Glasgow, but all of Scotland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield tomorrow, and we look forward to hearing the Warrior Nation behind us.”
Glasgow Warriors v Bulls
(Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 14.30 BST; 15.30 SAST; 13.30 GMT)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Bulls by three points
Teams
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne), 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Alex Samuel, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Jare Oguntibeju, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Adam Hastings
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Nizaam Carr.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
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