
Bulls' Crushing Defeat: Player Ratings from a Disappointing URC Final
2025-06-14
Author: Wei Ling
In a disheartening display, the Bulls fell to a staggering 32-7 defeat against Leinster in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final, casting a shadow over their hard-fought season. Here’s how each player rated after the match.
Player Ratings for the Bulls vs. Leinster
**15. Willie le Roux:** The seasoned playmaker attempted to ignite the Bulls’ offense but was often frustrated by errant passes, including a forward one. His cross-kicks lacked the accuracy needed to threaten Leinster. **Rating: 4**
**14. Canan Moodie:** Struggling to find his rhythm early, Moodie faced relentless challenges in the air. Although he held his own under pressure, his performance was far from stellar. **Rating: 4**
**13. David Kriel:** A rare quiet outing for Kriel, who was solid defensively but remained largely invisible in attack. **Rating: 5**
**12. Harold Vorster:** Vorster's needless penalty in the first half hindered his team’s momentum. While defensively sound, he lagged behind in offensive contributions. **Rating: 4**
**11. Sebastian de Klerk:** Bombarded with high balls, De Klerk was caught off-guard at times but kept battling through a difficult game. **Rating: 5**
**10. Johan Goosen:** The backline struggled to click, and Goosen faced significant blame for the lack of momentum. **Rating: 4**
A Frustrating Performance from the Pack
**9. Embrose Papier:** While he started strong, he ultimately succumbed to the relentless pressure from Leinster’s defense, struggling to make a meaningful impact. **Rating: 5**
**8. Marcell Coetzee:** Not usually seen playing on the back foot, Coetzee faced challenges but showed grit in defense despite the game’s pace getting the better of him at times. **Rating: 4**
**7. Ruan Nortje (c):** As captain, Nortje tried to steer the ship but faced obstacles from poor set pieces. He made numerous tackles, but his efforts ended in disappointment. **Rating: 6**
**6. Marco van Staden:** Primarily a bench player, van Staden struggled to influence the breakdown against Leinster's superior ruck accuracy, despite managing a few bright spots. **Rating: 6**
**5. JF van Heerden:** A fierce tackler who secured a turnover, van Heerden battled against a dominant pack but could not make enough of an impact. **Rating: 5**
**4. Cobus Wiese:** Unfortunately cut short by a concussion, Wiese was among the few forwards making headway and was poised for a breakout season. **Rating: 7**
**3. Wilco Louw:** Engaged in a tough battle in the scrums, Louw showed perseverance but couldn't establish the dominance expected of him. **Rating: 5**
**2. Johan Grobbelaar:** Not up to his usual standard, Grobbelaar's misfiring lineouts and inability to secure ball at the breakdown hindered the team. **Rating: 4**
**1. Jan-Hendrik Wessels:** Similar to his counterpart, Wessels faced a hard-hitting game and struggled to make an impact. **Rating: 5**
Bench Contributions and Final Thoughts
Facing a 19-point deficit in the second half was no small task for the Bulls' replacements. Akker van der Merwe attempted to spark some life into the team by scoring shortly after his introduction, but it was too little, too late as Leinster maintained their dominance. **Rating: 5**
The Bulls will surely need to regroup and refocus after this disappointing final, as their aspirations for glory slip further away.