The Bulls opened their 2025/26 URC campaign with a rollercoaster 53–40 victory over the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, recovering from a shaky first half to eventually outmuscle the Welsh outfit in a 93-point spectacle.
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MATCH RECAP
It was far from a perfect performance from the hosts, who were stunned early by a sharp and clinical Ospreys side that ran in a flurry of tries to seize control in the opening quarter.
The visitors took full advantage of a sluggish Bulls start, racing into a healthy lead through slick inter-play and aggressive forward carries that repeatedly exposed the Bulls’ defence.
The Ospreys dominated possession and territory in the first 40 minutes, with the Loftus crowd growing restless as the Bulls struggled to find rhythm. Keagan Johannes, starting at flyhalf, had a mixed outing – steady in general play but off-target from the tee, missing multiple conversion attempts that could have kept the scoreboard tighter early on.
Trailing at the break, the Bulls returned with renewed intensity. Their forwards began to assert themselves at the breakdown and in the carry, with the likes of Marcell Coetzee and Johan Grobbelaar leading the physical charge. As momentum swung, the Bulls tightened their structure, dominated the collisions, and began exploiting gaps out wide with more purpose.
Tries from Coetzee and Grobbelaar turned the tide, as the Bulls’ superior fitness and depth began to tell. The Ospreys, though spirited throughout, faded under the relentless pressure, conceding several scores in the third quarter as the Bulls finally found their attacking groove.
Despite conceding 40 points – a clear concern for new coach Johan Ackermann – the Bulls’ ability to stay composed under pressure and wrestle back control was a key positive. Their second-half performance, marked by improved discipline and sharper execution, ultimately secured the bonus-point win in what was one of the most entertaining encounters of the URC’s opening weekend.
For the Ospreys, it was a case of what might have been, but they leave Pretoria with heads held high after a gutsy showing in hostile territory.
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BULLS AND OSPREYS TEAMS
Bulls – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 David Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Juann Else, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Nicolas Janse van Rensburg, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.
Ospreys – 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Phil Cokanasiga, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 James Fender, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Garyn Phillips.
Subs: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 James Ratti, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Tom Florence, 23 Harri Houston.
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