Bulls player ratings vs Leinster | 2025 URC Final

Bulls player ratings: The Bulls failed to throw a punch in a one-sided 32-7 loss to Leinster in the URC final at Croke Park.

In truth, Jake White’s men looked devoid of ideas in the face of a bludgeoning blitz defence and never seriously threatened to knock Leinster off their stride.

Here’s how the Bulls rated:

1. Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 5
Carried with his usual vigour and wasn’t bullied physically, but struggled to assert dominance at the set-piece, with Tom Clarkson more than matching him in the scrum.

2. Johan Grobbelaar – 5
A few poor lineout throws at crucial moments robbed the Bulls of a foothold in the game. Not his sharpest afternoon.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Leinster

32 - 7

Full-time

Bulls

All Stats and Data

3. Wilco Louw – 5
The 144kg tighthead couldn’t impose himself in the scrum trenches as the Bulls would have hoped. An honest shift but far from destructive.

4. Cobus Wiese – 5.5
Was combative in contact but didn’t have it all his own way at lineout time. A failed HIA in the 35th minute cut his night short.

5. JF van Heerden – 6
Kept plugging away but Leinster’s defence swallowed him up time and again. Industrious but ultimately ineffective.

6. Marco van Staden – 7
One of the few forwards who looked capable of punching through. Relished the heavier conditions and didn’t shy away from the arm-wrestle.

7. Ruan Nortje – 6
Reliable at the lineout and put in a big shift around the park, but lacked impact in broken play, getting crunched on occasion.

8. Marcell Coetzee – 5.5
Usually a force in big matches, but this time Leinster met fire with fire. Struggled to impose himself physically, even if he emptied the tank in the process.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

11

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.3

3

Entries

9. Embrose Papier – 4.5
The slippery ball didn’t suit his style and his frustration was evident. A forgettable outing with a string of errors.

10. Johan Goosen – 6
Kicked solidly in backfield exchanges, but couldn’t orchestrate much with Leinster suffocating every channel. A speculative cross-kick that was easily snuffed out before the break summed up his evening.

11. Sebastian de Klerk – 4
A knock-on in the second half earned mocking cheers from the Croke Park crowd. It wasn’t his only one. An error-strewn showing.

12. Harold Vorster – 3.5
Was fortunate to avoid more severe punishment after a scuffle involving Joe McCarthy and what looked like contact with the Irish lock’s eye area. Missed multiple tackles too.

13. David Kriel – 6
Had a few bright moments with ball in hand, beating defenders one-on-one, but like the rest of the backline, had limited involvement.

14. Canan Moodie – 5
Threatened in the air but saw precious little of the ball. Wasn’t given enough space to operate.

15. Willie le Roux – 6
Tried to lift the team under siege and kicked with accuracy, but Leinster gave him little room to influence the game.

REPLACEMENTS

16. Akker van der Merwe – 8
Injected much-needed energy and physicality off the bench. Got over for a well-taken try that briefly ignited hope.

17. Alulutho Tshakweni – 5
Held his own in the scrums and offered fresh legs, but couldn’t shift momentum, giving away a penalty.

18. Mornay Smith – 5
Brought power but struggled to disrupt Leinster’s dominance.

19. Jannes Kirsten – 6.5
Replaced Wiese and worked hard but couldn’t find a way to crack the Leinster defence.

20. Nizaam Carr – 6
Added some zip to the loose forwards but didn’t see enough possession to make a real difference.

21. Zak Burger – NA
Not on long enough to rate.

22. Keagan Johannes – 5
Limited time to make an impact.

23. Devon Williams – 5
Came on late and saw little of the ball.