Rugby
Top 20 SA tries of the 2024-25 United Rugby Championship
There was plenty of Mzanzi magic in the fourth season of the United Rugby Championship, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld as he selects the top 20 South African tries of the tournament.
The South African sides once again thrilled with their power and panache with the Bulls making the Grand Final for the second consecutive year, the Sharks reaching the semi-finals for the first time and inaugural champions the Stormers qualifying for the quarter-finals.
And, while the Lions failed to crack the top eight again, they, too, made their presence felt and left a lasting impression. Whether it was moments of individual brilliance or mind-blowing cohesion, South Africans showed out and scored some stupendous tries, none more so than these 20 crackers:
20: Semisonic
Man of the Match Sebastian de Klerk capitalised on Jaden Hendrikse’s slip as he kicked the ball with the Bulls winger showing good vision and even better execution with his crosskick to Canan Moodie, who cashed in during the Loftus Versfeld semi-final.
19: Papier Plane
A stolen lineout by Ruan Nortje saw Embrose Papier fly through and over the Ospreys’ tryline like a paper plane in a gust of wind.
18: No Quarter Asked
A great ball by Willie le Roux allowed Sebastian de Klerk to show off his skills as he chipped, re-gathered and fed Harold Vorster, who calmly sold a dummy to Ali Price and scored a crucial try just before halftime in the Bulls’ quarter-final clash against Edinburgh.
17: Kick Start
Jurie Matthee kick-started the Stormers into action with this classy touch with the boot to Ruhan Nel that led to Leolin Zas scoring the Capetonians’ season-opening try against the Ospreys in Bridgend.
16: Blame It On The Boogeyman
Hot prospect Jurenzo Julius aka “The Boogeyman” started this screamer for the Sharks against the Dragons with a break and offload to Ethan Hooker, who gelled seamlessly with Andre Esterhuizen before putting Jaden Hendrikse in.
15: Running Of The Bulls
Nizaam Carr and Embrose Papier got in on the fun as the Bulls put Zebre to the sword. The duo came off the pine and combined to put Sergeal Petersen over for his second try of the match.
14: Hitting The Ground Running
The Lions hit the ground running, starting their campaign with a 35-22 win over Ulster thanks to tries like this. Quan Horn cut the visitors to shreds on a lethal counter-attack in which Erich Cronje was the link man and Henco van Wyk the finisher.
13: Hot Stuff
Siya Kolisi’s fast hands were instrumental while Jurenzo Julius’ inside pass was pinpoint, allowing Grant Williams to turn on the afterburners and draw first blood for the Sharks against the Lions.
12: Quan-tum leap
Man of the Match Quan Horn ripped the Stormers to shreds at Ellis Park, including from deep inside his half as he stepped Ben-Jason Dixon to set up this try for Henco van Wyk, with Morne van den Berg acting as the middle man.
11: Williams The Wizard
Devon Williams weaved a bit of magic in the Jukskei derby at Loftus Versfeld as he sliced through the Lions’ line from a scrum and chipped ahead for a determined Sebastian de Klerk to grab and dot down.
10: Bok Brilliance
A trio of Springboks combined to put this peach of a try past the Ospreys with Makazole Mapimpi fielding Aphelele Fassi’s pinpoint crosskick and showing his physicality and skill to put Phepsi Buthelezi away.
9: Magic In Motion
Dan du Plessis finished off this jaw-dropping behind-the-back pass from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Fast, skillful, and pure class, the Stormers were at their best as they put 50 past Benetton.
8: Offload For The Ages
The Lions’ handling to set up this try for Gianni Lombard was exquisite but replacement prop SJ Kotze’s no-look behind-the-back ball was truly special.
7: Flipping Good
Excellent handling from a quick throw-in saw the Stormers go from one side of the field to the other where an outstanding offload by Joseph Dweba saw Seabelo Senatla somersault his way over in the corner.
6: Coast To Coast
The Lions were on the rampage against Edinburgh in Round Three, scoring seven tries and racing to a record 48-0 halftime lead. The pick of the bunch was this coast-to-coast effort started by Quan Horn, with halfbacks Kade Wolhuter and Morne van den Berg combining and teeing up Edwill van der Merwe, who did well to finish.
5: Thunderstruck
Striking from a lineout in their own half, the Stormers showed their power and pizzazz as Paul de Villiers broke Connacht’s line, Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden showed their handling skills and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu chipped and re-gathered to score a screamer.
4: On Cloud Nine
The Bulls put the Dragons to the sword in the final round of the regular season, scoring nine tries, including this belter started by Bernard van der Linde and finished by Marcell Coetzee.
3: The Terminator
Henco van Wyk went full Terminator against Munster, looking more machine than man as he stormed to this otherworldly try.
2: Linking Up At Loftus
Terrific interplay by forwards and backs saw the Sharks take a bite out of the Bulls, with Jurenzo Julius floating the final pass inside to Jordan Hendrikse.
1: Stormers Jou Lekker Ding
The Stormers were red hot in Llanelli, blowing the Scarlets away with audacious offloads from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ruben van Heerden, a break by Warrick Gelant and footwork by Wandisile Simelane leading to this scorcher by Deon Fourie.