Nortje & Venter biggest winners in Bulls & Lions stunning victories

Ruan Nortje and Ruan Venter scored big on the Springboks barometer in a United Rugby Championship weekend where the Bulls were brutal and the Lions were lethal in combining for 101 points.

Bulls & Lions take charge of their own URC play-off destiny

The Bulls stampede started the URC weekend as they charged around Rodney Parade in Newport in winning 47-7 against the Dragons and the Lions were even more compelling in trouncing Glasgow 54-12.

Bulls lock Ruan Nortje was outstanding and he is comfortably the best lock in South Africa, home or based overseas. He is such a success story and his versatility in being comfortable in playing No 7 flank, makes him massive for any Springboks match 23.

A day later, at Ellis Park Ruan Venter made another compelling statement as the Lions dismantled the league leaders Glasgow 54-12.

Venter, who played No 7 flank, was among the best of an exceptional Lions effort. He was as good at No 4 lock a few weeks ago and 2026 will be the year that he adds to his one Test appearance for the Springboks.

Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier, who played for the Springboks in 2018, was again excellent and Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar was top drawer. The latter is now the best hooker based in South Africa.

Among the biggest plusses was Cameron Hanekom getting through another match.

Game time for Hanekom is the priority in the next month, having been out of the game for nearly a year through injury.

The Bulls, temporarily, moved to fifth in the league, but finished the weekend in seventh. They have have one match left on tour, against the Scarlets, and two to play at home against the Italian duo of Benetton and Zebre. They will back themselves capable of getting the full 15 points, which would take them to 60 league points.

The Lions created their own URC history in winning for the fifth time in succession to take their season tally to nine wins and one draw in 15 starts.

The Lions, the South African Shield winners, are fourth in the league and play Ireland’s Connacht at home in next weekend before completing their league season overseas.

The Lions have scored the most points in the league this season and their recent form has been their most impressive in the five season history of the URC.

There were so many good individual performances from the Lions. Henco van Wyk was the schoolboy sensation from Monument that many tipped to be a Springbok centre before his 21st birthday.

He has always been on Erasmus’s radar, but injuries have been his toughest opponent. This season he has played without restriction of injury hiccups and his form has been consistently of the highest quality. He scored two tries against Glasgow and was as strong at the breakdown as he was when carrying the ball.

Lions – 9 URC Wins (2025/26)