The Vodacom Bulls’ quest for European silverware continues with an EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Edinburgh at Hive Stadium on Saturday.
The BULLS consigned French Top 14 club Bayonne to their first home loss of the season in the round of 16, scoring four tries in a dominant 32-22 win.
It was a great result for Jake White’s side, who would otherwise have returned to South Africa only to head back to Europe for a two-match Vodacom URC tour which includes matches against Munster and Glasgow. They now have a four-match tour that can help them build a real head of steam going into the URC playoffs.
MORE: Jake basking in the Basque atmosphere
The Bulls’ won their last meeting with Edinburgh 22-16 at Loftus in September, but suffered a 31-23 defeat on their previous visit to Hive Stadium, in November 2023.
Edinburgh ended the LIONS‘ European campaign with a 24-12 win on Friday night, having led 17-0 after half an hour.
ALSO: Cash rues winless Euro tour
The silver lining is that Cash van Rooyen’s team can now fully focus on their URC regular-season campaign, which ends with four home matches as they chase a maiden appearance in the competition’s quarter-finals.
The SHARKS relinquished their Challenge Cup crown after a 34-21 defeat to Lyon at Matmut Stadium on Sunday. The second-string visitors trailed 27-7 at half time before showing some fight to score two late tries.
Coach John Plumtree’s squad now get a week off before his first-choice players return for URC tour matches against Edinburgh and Ulster.
Challenge Cup round-of-16 results:
Edinburgh 24 Lions 12
Pau 24 Bath 49
Bayonne 22 Bulls 32
Montpellier 17 Gloucester 24
Perpignan 18 Racing 92 24
Connacht 35 Cardiff 20
Lyon 34 Sharks 21
Ospreys 36 Scarlets 14
Challenge Cup quarter-final fixtures:
Saturday, 12 April
Edinburgh vs Bulls, Hive Stadium, 1.30pm
Ospreys vs Lyon, Swansea.com Stadium, 6.30pm
Connacht vs Racing 92, Dexcom Stadium, 9pm
Sunday, 13 April
Bath vs Gloucester, Recreation Ground, 6.30pm
In the pick of the Champions Cup quarter-finals, the Glasgow Warriors travel to Dublin to take on Leinster, with Franco Smith’s attack up against Jacques Nienaber’s defence.
Glasgow scored six tries, including two from former Sharks and Cheetahs flank Hanco Venter, in their first-ever Champions Cup knockout-stage win, against Leicester at Scotstoun Stadium, while Leinster ran in 10 tries to blank Harlequins at Croke Park.
Champions Cup round-of-16 results:
Northampton 46 Clermont 24
Toulon 72 Saracens 42
Leinster 62 Harlequins 0
Castres 39 Benetton 37
La Rochelle 24 Munster 25
Glasgow 43 Leicester 19
Bordeaux 43 Ulster 31
Toulouse 38 Sale 15
Champions Cup quarter-final fixtures:
Friday
Leinster vs Glasgow, Aviva Stadium, 9pm
Saturday
Bordeaux vs Munster, Stade Chaban-Delmas, 4pm
Northampton vs Castres, Franklin’s Gardens, 6.30pm
Sunday
Toulon vs Toulouse, Stade Felix Mayol, 4pm
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
