Following the Bulls\u2019 25-13 United Rugby Championship semi-final victory over the Sharks, here are our five takeaways from the clash at Loftus Versfeld.<\/b><\/p>\n
Top line<\/p>\n
A South African derby that certainly lived up to its billing as the Bulls and Sharks fought tooth and nail for the prized trip to Dublin to tackle Leinster in the URC<\/a> final in front of a bumper 47,214 crowd.<\/p>\n The Bulls<\/a> came out firing in the first half and raced into a 15-3 half-time lead thanks to the brilliance of Sebastian de Klerk, who scored the opener and sensationally set up his fellow winger Canan Moodie with a scrumptious crosskick.<\/p>\n However, ill-discipline gifted the visitors a route back into the game with Harold Vorster, Cameron Hanekom and Marcell Coetzee all visiting the sin bin and with the latter two still on the sidelines in the early knockings of the second half, the Sharks<\/a> finally struck.<\/p>\n Following the order of the day, it was the wingers who crossed the whitewash with Makazole Mapimpi down the flank to score with the ever-impressive Ethan Hooker following suit soon after in the opposite corner.<\/p>\n A Keagan Johannes penalty stretched the Bulls\u2019 lead to 18-13, setting up a mouth-watering final quarter. When Embrose Papier ripped through the Sharks\u2019 defence again with the ball quickly whipped out to David Kriel, who swan-dived over the line, the game was all but done as Johannes knocked over the conversion, which was the final contribution to the scoreline.<\/p>\n Brutal Bulls\u2019 scrum<\/p>\n When a South African team turns down the opportunity to scrum five metres from your line with a two-man advantage, then it\u2019s plainly obvious just how dominant you have been in that facet of the game.<\/p>\n That is precisely what happened in the latter stages of the first half as Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw had put the Springboks-laden Sharks front row in turbo reverse.<\/p>\n It was a scarily impressive showing from the pack that Jake White has built with the Bulls flexing a traditional strength of theirs and one that will put Leinster on notice.<\/p>\n Louw was particularly brilliant as he got the better of Ox Nche, continuing his outrageous form since joining the Pretoria franchise, while Wessels showed why he is so highly rated, doing a job on veteran Vincent Koch.<\/p>\n As alluded to earlier, the Bulls have historically had a powerhouse scrum, particularly during the Super Rugby heyday, winning three titles and if they are to go one better than they have in their previous URC campaign, then best believe that their scrum will play a pivotal role.<\/p>\n The Sharks did get some parity once the less-experienced front rowers came onto the pitch, but the damage was already done by that point, and a statement was emphatically made.<\/p>\n Leinster v Glasgow: Five takeaways as Leo Cullen\u2019s side still have a \u2018mental block to overcome\u2019 despite setting the record straight<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Sharks undone by their own tactics<\/p>\n \u201cWe have got to prepare as though the best team is coming here, and I have said before that\u2019s probably one of the best Sharks teams that\u2019s ever been on paper.\u201d<\/p>\n Those were the words of Bulls boss Jake White in the build-up to the match, and boy, did they prepare well.<\/p>\n The Sharks had one of, if not the, best tactical kicking games in the URC season this season but it did not show today with the Bulls dominating the aerial battle with Papier, Johan Goosen, and Johannes kicking superbly, with Moodie and De Klerk contesting just as well.<\/p>\n That was then paired with a lineout that fired well on the whole, another trait that the Sharks have been good at this campaign.<\/p>\n It was a tactically brilliant performance from the Bulls, who also scrambled well defensively and showed real heart, particularly when down to 13 men. The Sharks comfortably had the Bulls\u2019 number in the regular season, securing the double, but White and his coaching staff clearly did their homework to end that losing streak.<\/p>\n Bulls\u2019 title tilt hinges on discipline<\/p>\n The focus now turns to Dublin as the Bulls hope that it\u2019s third time lucky, but face probably their biggest challenge against a driven Leinster side that put Glasgow to the sword in emphatic fashion.<\/p>\n However, much of their chances will hinge on their ability to keep 15 men on the pitch with the Bulls seeing yellow for the 17th, 18th and 19th time today. While they were able to shut the Sharks out in the latter stages of the first half when they were down two men, it will take a much bigger effort to do so against a ruthless Leinster outfit.<\/p>\n It will not only be disciplined in terms of penalties but also in the execution of their game plan and skills as Leinster are bound to punish every opportunity that comes their way.<\/p>\n