Edinburgh v Bulls: Five takeaways as forward gives Rassie Erasmus ‘reason to smile’ while another loss ‘piles the pressure’ on Sean Everitt

Adam Kyriacou 23 Jan 2026 10:48 PM

Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar impressed.

Following a 19-17 win for the Bulls over Edinburgh at Hive Stadium on Friday, here’s our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship (URC) meeting.

The top line

Johan Ackermann’s Bulls made it back-to-back away triumphs in all competitions as they came from behind to beat their hosts and pick up four crucial points on the road.

Edinburgh led 17-5 at the break after an impressive opening half of rugby that saw ex-Bulls Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman go over before D’Arcy Rae scored.

But the Bulls fought back admirably in the second period after Marcell Coetzee’s first-half try, with a noticeable shift in tempo and attacking intent right from the resumption. Johan Grobbelaar’s try on 43 minutes was proof of that before Marco van Staden scored the all-important seven-pointer in the closing stages for the victory.

The result catapults the Bulls above Edinburgh and into ninth position on the URC table, doing their chances of finishing in the top eight a power of good after a slow start.

Second-half recovery

As mentioned, this was a match won by the Bulls’ second-half efforts, and Ackermann will be delighted and relieved they cranked up the heat on a miserable night in Scotland.

Central to their shift in form was replacement back Stravino Jacobs and hooker Grobbelaar, as both had a major impact on proceedings to ultimately wrap up a crucial win.

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While he will be pleased with the performance after the interval, no doubt boss Ackermann will review their first period woes, as this was a game they could easily have lost.

Springbok statement

Hooker Grobbelaar was everywhere tonight, as he did his core basics well and also chipped in around the field with that vital crossing early in the second half.

This showing will have given Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus reason to smile as the Bulls star is very much part of his match-day 23 plans moving to the World Cup.

Grobbelaar’s ability to go 80 minutes is also to be admired, with 15 carries, 13 tackles and 43 running metres seeing him deservedly pick up the Player of the Match award.

Worry for Scotland

Ewan Ashman had his evening cut short against Bath last Friday in the Investec Champions Cup due to a neck injury, but was set to return to action tonight after being named in the starting XV. However, it was announced ahead of kick-off that the Scotland hooker had not recovered from the issue and would sit out this URC match.

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This will no doubt concern Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend ahead of the Six Nations, who will hope it’s just a precaution that Ashman has been left out of this game.

Dave Cherry and George Turner are the other hookers in Townsend’s selection, but Ashman is Scotland’s first-choice number two and is vital to their Championship hopes.

Pressure mounts

While they are beset by injuries, Edinburgh rotated their side against Bath and did not send their first-choice team to the Rec last Friday, and it backfired in a 63-10 defeat.

Understandably, the team and head coach Sean Everitt copped some flak for that Champions Cup showing, but tonight they were back to full strength in terms of fit players.

However, another loss is ultimately the result and piles the pressure on Everitt, whose two-year contract extension received a mixed reaction on social media last Wednesday.

Bulls