An injury time drop-goal from Chris Smith helped the Bulls to clinch a 30-27 victory over the Sharks in Saturday's URC quarter-final in Pretoria.
Smith converted both for a 27-13 lead. Although Moodie was shoved off the ball by Makazole Mapimpi on the brink of scoring after chasing down his own kick, Tambwe was on hand to finish the job. Chris Smith was the hero for the Bulls as he slotted an injury time drop-goal which helped his side to clinch a thrilling 30-27 victory over the Sharks in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final in Pretoria on Saturday.
IOL Sport's Ashfak Mohamed looks at five individual battles that could decide the showdown between the Sharks and Bulls.
Sharks star Buthelezi needs to handle the grunt coming his way, while Bulls giant Louw must showcase some of those clever touches that make him even more effective, as the Durbanites will be waiting for him to charge at them. It will also be about which No 10 can win territory, and in that regard, Bulls’ pivot Smith often chases up the touchline – either by looking for space close to the edges or pulling off 50-22 kicks. And while Sean Everitt’s Sharks side have beaten the Bulls home and away in the URC, Jake White’s team did well to recover from a shaky start to secure a home play-off.
A late Chris Smith drop goal earned the Bulls a nail-biting 30-27 win against the Sharks in their absorbing United Rugby Championship quarter-final at ...
The Sharks could have and should have done better in the first half. They scored their second try through captain Marcell Coetzee five minutes after the break as the Bulls chose the route one rugby that's been so effective for them. That's a tall order, especially on the Highveld, regardless if it’s a South African team. What they didn't have to show for their effort were the points. The Sharks endeavoured and finally found a way through in the 75th-minute through Sikhumbuzo Notshe, but the build-up of the try was superb. A crowd of 22394 bayed on the Bulls in a tense last five minutes as they chose to end the game in regulation time.
Bulls vs Sharks LIVE scores: A place in the URC semi-finals will be on the line when the SA heavyweights clash at Loftus Versfeld.
“The fact that we have lost twice to them in the round robin stages shows the quality of their side. “The Sharks have been an outstanding side throughout the campaign. READ
It was heartbreak for the Sharks on Saturday afternoon in Pretoria after a Chris Smith drop goal in added time booked the Vodacom Bulls a spot in the ...
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag)June 4, 2022 — SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag)June 4, 2022 Coetzee then turned provider with a lovely offload to Cornal Hendricks, who dotted down under the posts for the hosts’ third try.
Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Chris Smith sent an injury time drop goal sailing through the posts to send his side into the Vodacom United Rugby Championship ...
Bulls players celebrate after winning their United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter final match against the Sharks at Loftus. Image: EPA/KIM LUDBROOK.
Penalties: Chris Smith (2) Conversions: Chris Smith (3) With that kick in the dying minutes that shattered the hearts of the Sharks and Smith the Bulls booked a place in the semifinals of the United Rugby Championship (URC).