Hanekom's dominant performance, epic URC, Top 14 and Super Rugby knockouts

RugbyBits

Kooks, Shaun and Thala break down an exciting weekend of club knockout rugby, focusing on the Bulls beating Leinster at Loftus in the URC semifinal.

Kooks shares what the atmosphere at Loftus was like at the game and how it was similar to the big knockout Super Rugby games of the past. We rave about Cam Hanekom's superb performance against an all international loose trio and how Johan Goosen and Willie le Roux controlled the game tactically. We discuss how Jake White and the Bulls learned from last season by recruiting players like Devon Williams and Sergeal Petersen to add depth. We finally investigate what Leinster can do to get over the hump.

We review the surprising Glasgow victory at Munster, discussing how dangerous the likes of Sione Tuipulotu and Rory Darge are, Munster playing too much rugby in their own half for little profit and how Tom Jordan plays like a flank. We briefly discuss the threats Glasgow could bring to the Bulls in the URC Final and have a rant about people ranting about the final being in South Africa and not being accessible for European supporters.

We then do a roundup of other knockout rugby this weekend, including the Blues and Chiefs winning their Super Rugby Pacific semifinals and setting up the Sotutu v Sititi clash in the final. In the Top 14, La Rochelle and Bordeaux survive and we discuss the Racing 92's comments on Siya Kolisi. Finally Monpellier beat Grenoble in the Top 14 relegation/promotion playoff.