The Bulls are desperate as they seek to regain top log position and a home semi-final

5th Min – The Bulls have started well, but just need to ensure they remain accurate

8th Min – The Lions get a penalty as the Bulls were adjudged to have taken a man out in the air. An unjust penalty sails wide.

9th Min – Dewald Potgieter penalised at the ruck and Herkie Kruger gets a chance almost from the same position. He nails this one to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.

11th Min – First touch from Pierre Spies and it’s a great run, but little Heini Adams knocks on.

13th Min – The Bulls suddenly don’t look as polished as the early weeks. Another handling mistake and they lose momentum.

16th Min – Penalty to the Bulls. Better buildup running at pace. Bulls look good with ball in hand running straighter and building phases. Morne Steyn becomes the leading South African points scorer in Super rugby as the scores are 3-3.

21st Min – It’s wave after wave of blue attacks here. I get the feeling the Bulls are about to crack this Lions defence which is starting to leak penalties from the pressure.

23rd Min – Why is it that suddenly the Lions can now tackle? Why haven’t they done this all season?

It’s a penalty to the Bulls, and Morne Steyn makes it 6-3.

26th Min – Penalty to the Lions. Kruger will atempt a 53m kick.
It goes wide. Score remains 6-3.

28th Min – The Lions had an overlap, but good cover defence from the Bulls.

32nd Min – Jaco Pretorius leaves the field with an injury and is replaced by Jacques Louis-Potgieter.

36th Min – Morne Steyn kicks another penalty to make it 12-3. It all came as the Lions were on the Bulls line and broke out.

38th Min – Try to the Lions. Goood work down the left flank creates space for Wandile Mjekevu. Nice try but it’s unconverted. Bulls lead 12-8.

40th Min – Fantastic work from the Bulls. Created space perfectly and a try saving tackle by Herkie Kruger on Wynand Olivier as the last line of defence. Olivier spills the ball and should have done better.

41st Min – The Bulls had numerous goes on the Lions line and Spies spilt the ball.

Half Time Bulls 12 Lions 8

We’ve seen a few upsets this weekend already. The Bulls are under pressure and have really dried up in the try department over recent times.

41st Min – A perfect start to the Bulls and Derick Kuun crashes over from the rolling maul and that is a much needed try!
Morne Steyn from out on the sideline kicks a great conversion. Bulls lead 19-8.

45th Min – Helter skelter stuff and the Lions get a penalty right out in front. The Lions showed some great handling skills. Kruger sneaks it through to narrow it to 19-11.

50th Min – Bulls earn a penalty and Morne Steyn makes it 22-11.

57th Min Pedrie Wannburg and Flip van der Merwe enter for Dewald Potgieter and Danie Rossouw.

63rd Min – Wave after wve. The Bulls lack penetration and the Lions defence has been impressive.

64th Min – Kirchner through the gap beautifully and van den Heever finishes brilliantly. We go to the TMo and we can see great skill from the Bulls winger.
Morne Steyn kicks it beautifully from the right hand sideline.
Bulls lead 29-11 and need to go for the 4 try bonus point now.

66th Min – Fantastic! Gerhard van den Heever again in the right hand corner. That’s much better.
Morne Steyn misses the kick from the sideline. Bulls lead by 34-11, and now have 13 minute to get the last try.

76th Min – Yes! Wave after wave after wave and eventually Morne Steyn goes over as there is space out wide. The conversion makes it 41-11.

78th Min – That’s more like it. The Bulls of old come to the fore. Try to Olivier, set up by Jacques-Louis Potgieterwho I think has played brilliantly and made a world of difference. His urgency and running straight has gotten the Bulls going forward and able to run into gaps.

82nd Min – John Mametsa scores his first ever super rugby try and he deserves it. He has been great tonight too.
Morne Steyn finishes by shaving the outside of the upright.

Full Time Bulls 51 Lions 11

It was a slow start, but the Bulls got better and better, and they’ll be looking for that sort of form to continue next week. They’ll be happy to have opened a 5 point buffer on the log, and probably need to win 2 out of the next 3 to secure number 1 spot.