BizNews Rugby: The URC's shenanigans, surprises, schoolboy derbies, and Jake's salvo
A whirlwind weekend of rugby: From record-breaking routs to emotional farewells, it was a weekend packed with drama, tries, and a fair share of rugby magic that had fans clutching their pints, gasping at tries, and occasionally questioning the sanity of the sport. And just like that, three South African franchises are sitting pretty in the top five on the URC log! The champions are wobbling a bit and must now head up to Dublin. A Warriors / Stormers or Warriors / Sharks quarter-final at Scotstoun looms large on the horizon with just Round 18 to go…
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By Rory Steyn
Friday, 9 May: The opening salvo
Sharks 29-10 Ospreys (Durban)
On a balmy evening in Durban, the Sharks opened Round 17 on Friday night by overpowering the Ospreys with a 29-10 win, keeping their play-off hopes alive. The home side's physicality and flair proved too much for the visitors, who struggled to contain the Sharks' relentless attack, treating the Ospreys like a pesky seagull stealing chips at the beach. The South Africans were relentless, with their forward pack resembling a crash of rhinos. Tries came thick and fast, with Siya Kolisi leading the charge like a man who'd just discovered coffee. The Ospreys, bless them, flapped valiantly but were outmuscled, managing a solitary try that felt more like a consolation prize. The Sharks' 29-10 victory was a statement: they're not just here for the suntan.
Eben Etzebeth's freak collision with teammate Bongi Mbonambi's head early doors was the big concern immediately after the match, as URC play-offs and the Springbok winter fixtures approach. The good news for Sharks and Bok fans alike is that it appears to be bruising (haematoma) rather than ligament damage, Rapport reported on Sunday.
Mark Jones (Ospreys head coach): "We were outplayed in key areas. The Sharks were clinical, and we need to learn from this performance.”
Munster 38-20 Ulster (Limerick)
In Friday night's second match, in Limerick, Munster bid farewell to former captain Peter O'Mahony with a try-scoring send-off in their six-try triumph over Ulster. Tom Farrell earned the Player of the Match accolade. The Home side's dominance was evident as they secured a bonus-point win, further solidifying their position in the standings, turning Thomond Park into a fortress of fury against their Irish rivals. The men in red played like they'd been promised free Guinness for every try, racking up five to Ulster's two. The Ulstermen tried to spark a comeback, but Munster's backline was having none of it, slicing them open like a hot knife through Irish butter. The 38-20 scoreline flattered Ulster, who spent the second half chasing shadows. A quirky highlight? A rogue seagull (clearly a theme this weekend) briefly halted play, prompting a fan to yell, "Sign that bird for Ulster!”
Dan McFarland (Ulster head coach): "I loved my team's performance, I thought they were brilliant. We came down here, went after Munster from the word 'go' and really stuck in the game."
Saturday, 10 May: The main event madness
Bulls 45-21 Cardiff (Pretoria)
At Loftus Versfeld, the Vodacom Bulls turned Cardiff's defence into Swiss cheese, romping to a 45-21 win. The altitude in Pretoria must have felt like climbing Everest for the Welsh side, who gasped and wheezed as the Bulls' backs ran riot. Johan Goosen's ever-reliable boot and David Kriel's hat-trick had the Loftus scoreboard operators working overtime. Cardiff managed three tries, but it was like bringing a water pistol to an artillery barrage. A peculiar moment came when a streaker dressed as a bull (because, why not?) dashed onto the pitch, only to be tackled by a security guard who clearly missed his rugby days.
The Bulls charged to a decisive victory over their Welsh visitors, showcasing some excellent attacking prowess. The win keeps them firmly in the hunt for a top-two finish, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the regular season.
Willie le Roux (player of the match): "We knew Cardiff would be tough, but we stuck to our structures and executed well. The crowd was amazing today."
Stormers 48-12 Dragons (Cape Town)
The DHL Stormers, in their Cape Town cauldron, treated the Dragons to a rugby barbecue, roasting them 48-12. The Stormers surged to a commanding 14-0 halftime lead and didn't look back, securing a bonus-point victory over the bottom-of-the-table visitors from Newport. Early dominance set the tone, and despite a second-half try from Wainwright and a late score by Dane Blacker for the Dragons, the Stormers' three late tries ensured a comprehensive win.
The Welsh side arrived with hopes of an upset but left looking like they'd been caught in a Cape Gale. Playing in his 100th match, Damian Willemse orchestrated the Stormers' attack from 12 like a maestro, his powerful runs, slick hands, and clever feet freeing up a dangerous backline around him. The Dragons' defence was leakier than a colander, conceding seven tries, while the Stormers solidified their playoff credentials with real flair. It's looking rather like a repeat of last season's quarter-final: can they do at Scotstoun in two weeks' time what they failed to do last season?
Marcel Theunissen (player of the match): "We wanted to make a statement today, and I think we did that. The boys were outstanding."
Leinster 76-5 Zebre (Dublin)
Oh, Leinster. The Dublin juggernaut turned poor Zebre into mincemeat, racking up a cricket score of 76-5 in a match that looked a bit like men against boys. The Italians were brave, but bravery only gets you so far when Leinster's backs are pirouetting through gaps like ballet dancers on Red Bull. Twelve tries, including a brace from All Black Jordie Barrett, left the Aviva Stadium crowd both awestruck and slightly embarrassed for Zebre. The Italians' lone try was cheered louder than Leinster's, a nod to their plucky spirit. In a bizarre twist, a fan's attempt to smuggle a pet ferret into the stadium was thwarted, with the creature reportedly named "Leo Cullen" after Leinster's coach.
Jordie Barrett shone with those two tries and multiple assists, earning Player of the Match honours, leaving one wondering why he was on the bench last week in that ICC semi-final loss to Saints. Other try-scorers included Rónan Kelleher, Luke McGrath, Ryan Baird, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast (who converted six of them), Josh van der Flier, Jamie Osborne (twice), Ciarán Frawley (two conversions), and James Culhane. Zebre's sole response came from Gonzalo Garcia. Despite the emphatic win, Leinster's Leo Cullen acknowledged that the victory was a step towards rebuilding morale rather than a cure for recent disappointments.
Leo Cullen (head coach): "It was a good performance, but we know we have to keep building. The pain of last week still lingers."
Jordie Barrett (player of the match): "It was a good bounce back after last week. We had a lot of fun out there."
Superbru: an eye-watering 99.5 / 0.5!
Benetton 33-7 Glasgow (Treviso)
Benetton, the Italian stallions, stunned the reigning champions Glasgow Warriors in Treviso, winning 33-7 in a match that had jaws dropping across the URC. The Scots, usually so composed, looked like they'd forgotten their lines in a school play, making that four losses on the trot. Most unlike them. Benetton's forwards bullied their way to dominance, while Rhyno Smith's dazzling footwork left Glasgow's defence grasping at air. The Warriors' solitary try came too late to matter, and their fans were left muttering about "off days." This result shook the playoff race like a snow globe, and Glasgow will probably drop to 4th by the end of the pool matches next week.
The win boosts Benetton's play-off aspirations while dealing a blow to Glasgow's momentum heading into the final round.
Franco Smith (Glasgow head coach), back in the stadium where he plied his trade as a player and coach, said: "It might relieve pressure, allowing clearer focus for quarter-finals."
However, with recent form and defensive frailties exposed, Glasgow face an uphill battle to retain their title.
Connacht 21-31 Edinburgh (Galway)
In Galway, Edinburgh spoiled Connacht's party with a 31-21 victory that was tighter than a hipster's jeans. Connacht fought like scrappy underdogs at Home, but Edinburgh's clinical finishing, led by Hamish Watson, proved the difference. The visitors surged ahead early with tries from Pierre Schoeman and Watson. Connacht fought back valiantly, with Finn Treacy scoring twice and Shayne Bolton adding another, levelling the scores twice in the second half. The Irish side's maul was their secret weapon, yielding two tries, but Edinburgh's defence held firm in the final quarter; their win kept their playoff hopes alive when Ben Muncaster and replacement Charlie Shiel sealed the win, Ben Healy adding a late penalty. The loss ended Connacht's hopes for URC play-off qualification and next season's Champions Cup as they lick their wounds and eye the final round.
Charlie Shiel (player of the match): "It was a great team effort. We knew Connacht would come at us hard, but we stuck to our game plan and got the result."
Sunday, 11 May: The final curtain
Lions 19-32 Scarlets (Joburg)
A Joburg jolt in the jungle: what on earth is going on at the Lions? On Sunday (11 May 2025), Emirates Ellis Park saw a URC showdown that had fans roaring louder than a lion with a thorn in its paw; at the Lions! Superbru had this one at 81 / 19 in the Lions' favour. Desperate to snap a five-game losing streak, they faced the plucky Scarlets, shortly arrived from Wales with playoff dreams and a suitcase full of grit. What unfolded was a 32-19 Scarlets victory that was as surprising as finding a vegan at the braai outside!
Led by full-back Blair Murray, the Scarlets came out swinging like a pendulum on caffeine, with Murray bagging two first-half tries that once again found the Lions wanting. The Welshmen's scrum was a thing of beauty, bullying the Lions' forwards like a schoolyard tough guy in their own schoolyard. By halftime, the Scarlets led 14-0, and Lions fans were nervously eyeing their Castle Lagers.
But the Lions, true to their name, clawed their way back in the second half, narrowing the gap to 22-19 with three tries, including a sneaky snipe from scrum-half Morne van den Berg. The crowd roared, sensing a comeback, but the Scarlets weren't here for a safari—they meant business. Fly-half Sam Costelow's boot and a late try sealed a bonus-point win, leaving the Lions licking their paws and the Scarlets dancing a Welsh jig. This historic victory, the Scarlets' first on South African soil in the URC era, boosted their playoff hopes to seventh place, while the 13th-placed Lions must surely now face calls for a coaching shake-up as all hope of a play-off has disappeared. A quirky highlight? A fan's inflatable dragon briefly halted play, prompting the ref to mutter, "Only in rugby." The URC jungle just got wilder…
Dwayne Peel (Scarlets coach): "It was a massive performance from the boys. To come to Johannesburg and get a bonus-point win is no small feat. The character and composure they showed, especially after going down to 14 men early on, was outstanding." True.
The bigger picture: Playoffs and peculiarities - rugby’s glorious chaos
These eight Round 17 matches were pivotal in the URC's "Race to the Eight" playoff spots. Leinster's demolition of Zebre cemented their top spot, with 72 points and a points difference that could fund a small nation. The Bulls (63 points) and The Stormers (48) kept the South African flag flying, while Benetton's upset over Glasgow (third on 58 points) threw a spanner in the Scots' title defence. Munster and the Sharks also strengthened their cases, while Connacht, Cardiff, and the Dragons slipped further from contention. Zebre and the Ospreys? Well, they're already planning for next season.
The weekend wasn't just about rugby. It was a carnival of quirks: from streakers to seagulls, ferrets to inflatable sheep, the URC proved it's as much about the fans as the players. The sport's charm lies in its ability to blend bone-crunching tackles with moments of pure absurdity. Social media buzzed with memes. On X, one user quipped, "Leinster's scoreline broke my calculator," while another dubbed Benetton's win over the champions, "the Treviso Miracle."
Final thoughts:
The May 9-11 URC matches were a microcosm of why rugby fans keep coming back. The Sharks' power, Leinster's precision, Benetton's bravado, and the Scarlets' and Edinburgh's grit showcased the league's diversity. Steven Donald, are you listening? The Stormers and the Bulls brought South African swagger, while Munster reminded everyone of Ireland's depth. Yet, it was the oddities - pitch invaders, rogue animals, and fans with questionable inflatable choices - that added spice to the spectacle.
As the URC heads into its final regular-season round, the playoff picture is clearer but no less thrilling. Leinster are untouchable, but the scrap for the remaining spots is fiercer than a scrum at a buffet. One thing's certain: if this weekend was anything to go by, the URC's climax next week will again be full-gas. So, grab your pint, dodge the seagulls, and brace for more rugby mayhem.
Cape High School derbies
Unfortunate Western Cape weather meant that neither of the much-anticipated 'Top-5 school derbies' were ever going to be the spectacles of fast-paced, flowing rugby they could've been. Paarl Boys High beat Grey College Bloemfontein 25–10 as their heavy (and very effective) pack took its toll in the second half in Paarl, scrumming and mauling the boys from the City of Roses into submission.
Similarly, Paul Roos suffered their first defeat at The Markötter Stadium since around 2012, when the 'other' team from Paarl, Gimnasium, this time, took the Away win in a mud-bath somewhat resembling a rugby field in Stellenbosch. Said one pundit after the match, "It's their own fault, I'm glad they lost. Paul Roos have the best facilities off the field, they need to dig up that bog, lay new soil, new turf, and a new drainage system - they've got the money. "There can be no excuses, the conditions were always going to play into the hands of Paarl Gimnasium with their superior forwards."
Paarl Gim scored three tries to Paul Roos Gimnasium’s two, winning 17-10. Bring on that Paarl Derby on 1 August: it can now legitimately be billed as the battle for the No. 1 Rugby School in 2025…
Jake's broadside
Jake White, Director of Rugby at the Bulls, has recently voiced strong concerns about the trend of South African rugby stars, such as Kurt-Lee Arendse, playing abroad during crucial phases of the domestic season. Arendse, currently on a short-term contract with Japan's Mitsubishi Dynaboars, will not return in time for the Bulls' URC playoffs. White expressed his frustration, stating: "It's not good for South African rugby that the best players who make the line-breaks are playing all over the world and not for our franchises. It's a very bad thing." He emphasised the challenges of developing players who then leave SA at pivotal moments: "You build a guy and bring him to the club and make him who he is, and then you don't have the luxury of having him when you need him the most and at the best time of his career."
White also highlighted the lack of regulation regarding player movements, expressing concern over reports of other contracted players, like Simphiwe Matanzima, signing with rival franchises: "I've heard the same about Kurt-Lee Arendse and I'm concerned. There doesn't seem to be a watchdog when it comes to who's signing who, when they're going, who's talking to who, who goes overseas and who can stay."
Does Jake have a point, BizNews Tribe?