The Vodacom Bulls will host a United Rugby Championship final for the first time when they take on Glasgow Warriors in Pretoria next week.
Jake White’s charges claimed a 25-20 semi-final victory over a star-studded Leinster outfit that went down swinging at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in front of a crowd of almost 32,000, and the venue is expected to be filled to capacity for the 2023-24 URC decider on 22 June.
In the second semi-final on Saturday, Glasgow converted a 7-3 half-time lead against Munster in Limerick into a 17-10 win to book a place in the finale, and set up a titanic rematch with the Bulls at Loftus where they had lost earlier in the league stage.
THE FINAL WILL BE AT LOFTUS NEXT WEEKEND!!!!!
The inauguration of the President will be at the Union Buildings on Wednesday— Willem Strauss (@willemStrauss9) June 15, 2024
Warriors captain Kyle Steyn’s opportunistic 23rd-minute try came when teammate Richie Gray was in the bin while Matt Fagerson also saw yellow but the visitors still led at the break, with Munster’s response coming from a lone Jack Crowley penalty.
Despite having 63% possession and 71% territory during the first half, a try eluded the defending champions and they fell further behind when Sebastian Cancelliere surged over in the 50th minute to help make it 14-3.
Antoine Frisch pulled back seven points with a converted try, but the hosts had Alex Nankivell red carded and George Horne’s resulting 74th-minute penalty kick proved enough for the Scottish side.
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Captain Reaction
Kyle Steyn capitalises on loose ball and hot-foots it up the park for @GlasgowWarriors first try of the night! @Vodacom #URC #MUNvGLA pic.twitter.com/fT6VhaSUX5
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 15, 2024
Following an early Crowley miss from the tee, a Sione Tuipulotu break had Franco Smith’s men pressing close in for the opening score of the match.
Mike Haley came to Munster’s rescue, and when they advanced again from successive penalties, Gray’s yellow for offside preceded Crowley’s 11th-minute penalty as the holders drew first blood in the semi-final.
Glasgow hit back in though when, after the ball went loose between Frisch and Nankivell, Steyn swooped in to score from halfway and Horne converted.
Running all the way to Pretoria
Could @GlasgowWarriors book themselves a spot in the #URC final? @Vodacom | #MUNvGLA pic.twitter.com/vWxGY8ucwF
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 15, 2024
The Warriors were also now winning the breakdown battle and Munster were frustrated by the away side’s defence, which was brilliant at times.
Huw Jones tackled Simon Zebo into touch, and Scott Cummings and Tom Jordan both earned turnovers.
Fagerson’s high tackle on Peter O’Mahony drew another yellow card for Glasgow, but Munster needed skipper Tadhg Beirne to twice thwart the Warriors in quick succession.
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Glasgow would not be denied 10 minutes into the second half, though, as they moved further clear.
Following a Horne penalty miss, Glasgow ran a Crowley kick back with interest and the fast-breaking Jones fed Argentinian Cancelliere for a slick finish. Horne supplied the extras from the right.
With the game slipping away, Munster earned themselves a lifeline when prop Jeremy Loughman’s impressive run paved the way for Frisch to score in the left corner. Crowley’s classy conversion brought it back to a four-point game.
However, an error-strewn Munster failed to kick on and when Nankivell made contact with Horne’s head at a ruck, it allowed the scrum-half to book Glasgow’s flight to South Africa.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images
