Brilliant Bulls March On To European Quarter-Finals

The Vodacom Bulls will fly the South African flag in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals after claiming a stunning win in Bayonne.

South African rugby’s demise in the European tournaments has been greatly exaggerated.

While three teams have fallen by the wayside, one team will march on to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Champions Cup Quarter-Final Lineup Confirmed

Meanwhile, the Champions Cup quarter-final lineup has been confirmed. Leinster will face Glasgow Warriors on Friday night, Bordeaux-Begles will tackle Munster while Northampton Saints front Castres on Saturday. Toulon and Toulouse will lock horns on Sunday.

Criticism Of South African Franchises

Earlier this season, the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers came in for fierce criticism, after they failed to progress past the Champions Cup league phase. Collectively, the top franchises recorded zero wins from six fixtures staged in Europe.

Expectations Tempered Ahead Of Playoffs

In light of these losses – and some truly humiliating scorelines – expectations were tempered ahead of the first round of the European playoffs.

While the Bulls and Sharks dropped down to the second-tier Challenge Cup tournament, few would have bet on the South African teams to prevail in Bayonne and Lyon.

Lions’ Defeat In Edinburgh

The Round of 16 kicked off in predictable fashion, with the Emirates Lions going down 24-12 in Edinburgh on Friday. Bettors who took a punt on the 12-point handicap will be relieved that the Lions avoided a heavier defeat.

Bulls Dominate With Springbok Power

Jake White showed his intent when he selected a strong Bulls side stacked with Springboks in the clash against Bayonne on Saturday. The players rose to the occasion, with the forwards setting the platform at the set pieces and collisions, and the backs converting most of their opportunities into points.

Strategic Challenges Ahead

It remains to be seen whether White will continue to field a full-strength side in the quarter-final against Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium this coming Saturday.

If the Bulls empty the tank in the Scottish capital and earn a place in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, they may compromise their efforts in the subsequent games against Munster and Glasgow, as well as their quest to secure a home quarter-final in the United Rugby Championship.

South African Focus Shifts To URC

As the only South African team left in Europe, the Bulls are the only local franchise that faces a juggling act over the two tournaments in the coming weeks. The other three South African franchises have been knocked out, and will focus on their respective URC campaigns for the remainder of the season.

Upcoming Fixtures For South African Sides

The Stormers will have another week off before facing Connacht in Cape Town on 19 April. The Lions have returned to South Africa after a three-week stint in Europe, and will have another week to prepare for a clash against Benetton that could make or break their season.

A relatively inexperienced Sharks side went down 34-21 in Lyon on Sunday. A host of Springboks are expected to return for their two-week URC tour, which kicks off on 19 April with a visit to Edinburgh. At this stage, the Sharks are still in the hunt for a home quarter-final in that competition.

Bet On The European Challenge Cup At SuperSportBet

Don’t miss your chance to back the Bulls as they continue their European journey! Place your bets now on the quarter-finals and beyond at SuperSportBet.