In a weekend of URC matches that promised revival for South Africa’s flagship franchises, reality bit hard. The Sharks were swarmed by Leinster in Dublin, while the Bulls were bullied by Ulster in Belfast, results that underlined how unforgiving the northern itinerary can be and how narrow the margins are when fine plans meet cold Irish evenings.
Leinster remind the Sharks why they are champions
The build-up had a hopeful beat. The Sharks arrived at the Aviva Stadium with Springbok reinforcements, Ethan Hooker and Makazole Mapimpi in the starting fifteen, and Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch ready to add punch off the bench. Coach John Plumtree spoke about the importance of the aerial contest, a battleground he called a modern set piece, and he liked the combination with Edwill van der Merwe at fullback.
“They are massively important. Having Hooks and Mapimps back is good. They are good in the air as well. The modern game isn’t just about set-piece dominance, the kicking game is like another set piece,” explained Plumtree, adding that success there can deconstruct defenses and create danger on attack.
Leinster, back on home grass and buoyed by returning British and Irish Lions, wasted no time asserting themselves. James Lowe produced a deft grubber that sat up for Jamie Osborne to score, with Harry Byrne converting. A slick lineout strike unlocked Jimmy O’Brien for the second, then captain Josh van der Flier punched through for the third as the champions tightened their grip before the break.
There was a flicker for the visitors when Hooker soared to claim a contestable and sprinted in, a moment that showcased the very edge the Sharks hoped to exploit. But handling errors and a costly penalty kept them from building momentum, and at 21-5 down at half time, the mountain already looked steep. The second half brought more Leinster control, with Max Deegan crashing over for the bonus point and, late on, a botched lineout gifting Gus McCarthy the fifth try to seal a 31-5 win.
What this says about the Sharks
The Sharks’ intent was evident, and the individual spark from Ethan Hooker underlined his growing stature. Yet the match narrative turned on accuracy, territory and composure under pressure, themes that have threaded through their opening tour where they lost to Glasgow Warriors then drew with Dragons. The late set-piece error and earlier handling lapses told a harsh story about execution against elite opposition.
Earlier in the week, center Lukhanyo Am framed the challenge with clarity. “Leinster are the champions for a reason. The log position doesn’t mean much right now, it’s still early in the season. Playing away from home is always tough, but it’s the kind of game that brings out the best in players.”
Plumtree has been open about long-term plans for Hooker, earmarked as a future midfield presence, even as he continues to operate on the wing. That evolution will continue in Durban, where the schedule now offers opportunity and jeopardy in equal measure. The Sharks return home for two crucial matches ahead of the international break, and they will host Ulster next, a test that will demand sharper decision-making and calm in the collisions.
The squad picture remains a factor. Aphelele Fassi, Jordan Hendrikse, Trevor Nyakane and Yaw Penxe are still sidelined, so the load on leaders like Am and Mapimpi will be significant. The incoming Boks provide quality, but cohesion takes time, and the Irish capital supplied a reminder that small misfires become big margins at this level.
Ulster overpower the Bulls in Belfast
The Bulls arrived in Belfast with a perfect start behind them, bonus point wins over Leinster and Ospreys at Loftus and the energy of several returning Boks. The headline was the comeback of Handre Pollard at flyhalf, a calming presence whose game management and experience in northern conditions were hailed by captain Johan Grobbelaar before kickoff.
“Handre is one of the best flyhalves in the world, with heaps of experience. He’s been at the Bulls before, so it’s not new to him. His calmness on the field will make a massive difference in managing the game,” said Grobbelaar, who also pointed to lessons learned on the road in recent seasons.
Ulster’s 28-7 victory, however, offered a different lesson. The first quarter was tight, and when the Bulls mauled over the line it seemed the visitors had cracked the code, only for the TMO to spot a knock-on. Minutes later Stuart McCloskey sliced through and Nathan Doak converted, the spark Ulster needed in front of an engaged Kingspan crowd.
There was a window for the Bulls when Rob Herring was sin-binned after a string of penalties. Wilco Louw hammered over from close range and Pollard slotted the conversion, a 7-7 half-time score that set up an arm wrestle. Then came the pivot, a yellow card to No 8 Jeandre Rudolph for cynical play, and Ulster needed no further invitation, Juarno Augustus muscling over from a tap to restore the lead.
From there the hosts closed the vice. Herring atoned with a try, then lock Cormac Izuchukwu finished another surge, and the Bulls were out of road. Execution in the red zone and discipline at key moments tilted the evening, and Ulster’s breakdown pressure fused with accuracy to keep the Highveld team on the back foot.
What this says about the Bulls
The Bulls have been trending upward in their touring form, a point Grobbelaar stressed before the match. The performance in Belfast showed how quickly momentum can swing when small errors stack up, a disallowed maul try, a yellow card, and the inability to convert pressure into points against an organized defence. The return of Pollard is still a significant plus for the weeks ahead, but the team will know that game control on the road requires collective precision.
“We’ve created a lot of opportunities, but we need to finish them. If we can tighten up on defence and be more clinical, we’ll give ourselves a good chance,” Grobbelaar said, as the Bulls now look toward a trip to Connacht before closing the tour against Glasgow Warriors.
The human heartbeat behind the headlines
Weeks like these expose character. For Lukhanyo Am, this season carries a personal edge after injury and time out of the Springbok group. His words about pressure in a positive way ring true, and for a Sharks backline that flashed with Hooker’s finishing and Mapimpi’s presence, the next step is consistency. For the Bulls, Pollard’s steadying hand will grow with minutes, and the young core around him will only benefit from the sting of Belfast.
“Getting back into the Bok mix will take game time and form. It’s very competitive there, but I know what it takes,” Am said, a sentiment that mirrors the climb both franchises are trying to make in the URC hierarchy.
Key takeaways for the South African contenders
- The power of reinforcements is real, but cohesion needs time to settle, especially away from home under pressure,
- Discipline and set-piece accuracy remain non-negotiable, disallowed tries and yellow cards are momentum killers,
- The aerial and territorial battle shapes everything, but it only matters when matched with clean hands and good exits.
What comes next
The calendar does not pause for regrouping. The Sharks are back at Kings Park next week and host Ulster, a fixture that will test their belief and their breakdown resilience. Leinster take their renewed confidence into an Irish derby with Munster, a cauldron that will sharpen them further.
The Bulls head west to Galway to face Connacht, and the focus will be on eliminating soft penalties, protecting the ball in contact, and sharpening strike plays in the red zone. A closing date in Scotland against Glasgow Warriors follows, the kind of stretch that defines seeding later in the campaign. Ulster, for their part, travel to Durban, a quick-turn challenge that will strain Sharks defense and mindset in equal measure.
Why this weekend matters
Early in the season, league tables flatter and mislead. What matters is evidence. Leinster’s first win of the campaign came with the authority of champions who have replenished their ranks. Ulster’s statement over a Bok-laden Bulls side underlined their heft and cohesion at home. For the Sharks and the Bulls, the lesson is not about panic, it is about recalibration.
The nuance is clear. The Sharks showed they can create moments, but the margins at this level punish every loose carry and crooked throw. The Bulls looked ready to squeeze Ulster, then indiscipline loosened the grip. Both sides have the personnel to rebound, and both have coaches who understand the grind that defines the URC.
Final word
There is a particular honesty to northern tours. The cold air sharpens the senses, and the crowds demand substance over promise. The Sharks and the Bulls felt that weight this weekend, and it may prove a timely wake-up rather than a red flag. The next fortnight offers a clean slate and, if they apply the lessons, a platform to reassert their ambitions.
In a competition where travel is a test and every contestable in the sky feels like a coin flip, the South African heavyweights still have the tools to thrive. The task now is to turn the pre-match talk into post-match control, to convert territory into points, and to ensure that the next chapter reads less like a misfire and more like a reset.
