The Bulls will be marching to Dublin as they go in search of a maiden United Rugby Championship (URC) title against Leinster next Saturday.
They earned the right after a 25-13 semifinal win over the Sharks at Loftus in a match in which fortunes ebbed and flowed before the tide turned decisively in the Bulls’s favour in the last 15 minutes.
Though the Sharks staged a courageous fightback early in the second half, they lost that momentum as the Bulls kept the composure that has now seen them win eight URC matches on the trot.
Much of this victory was built on the Bulls’ unremitting defence. They repelled the Sharks in the latter part of the first half when they were exposed numerically, with players serving yellow-card sanction.
Poor goalkicking from flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse also invited more pressure onto the visitors as their toil went unrewarded. When brother Jaden took over, this time he blinked.
Notwithstanding their woes off the kicking tee, and the pressure they were under from the Bulls’ scrum, the front row fracture did not permeate the rest of the Sharks’ game. In fact, they carved out enough opportunity to have made their half-time chat less chastening.
To be fair, the Bulls’ grit forced them into error. Loosehead prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels, as well as centres David Kriel and Harold Vorster, did much of the heavy lifting, while right-wing Sebastian de Klerk was the sharpest tool in their attack. Scrumhalf Embrose Papier was also razor sharp, while replacement flyhalf Keagan Johannes brought much needed composure.
Crucially, when the Bulls had Vorster and Cameron Hanekom in the sin bin, the Sharks made no impression on the scoreboard. When Vorster was restored, Marcell Coetzee followed the well-trodden path to the bin. Again, however, the Sharks fluffed their lines with the try line within arm’s length.
It was only after the restart that they made an impression on the scoreboard when Makazole Mapimpi scored.
The Bulls suffered a double blow when Hanekom, soon after his return, left the field with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
After De Klerk scored the opening try, a Jaden Hendrikse slip led to the second try after his team turned over possession near their own try line. He lost his footing in attempting a clearance kick, with the ball dribbling to De Klerk, who picked up and delivered a well-weighted kick that found Canan Moodie anticipating and Mapimpi wanting.
Elsewhere, however, Mapimpi continued to operate with the verve and vigour that has characterised his play this year. He perhaps needs to sharpen up on his grasp of the laws.
Though the Sharks were under siege in the scrums, they saw enough ball to ask questions of the Bulls’ defence — in particular in midfield, where Andre Esterhuizen rumbled with familiar intent. The soft shoulder of the now fit Johan Goosen was always going to be in his crosshairs but, to be fair, the Bulls had to pull out all the stops when the Bok inside centre was in possession.
By contrast, however, there were times when centre partner Lukhanyo Am looked like he has reached his PM.
A 57th minute Keagan Johannes penalty edged the Bulls in front, before Kriel ran clear to take the game out of the Sharks’ reach.
Meanwhile, in the first half of the other semifinal in Dublin, a ruthless and relentless Leinster laid the foundation for their first semifinal win in the URC, beating Glasgow Warriors 39-19.
The hosts took a 25-5 lead into half-time, having beaten the Warriors to the punch in most facets.
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