Bulls go top after bonus-point win
The Bulls moved to the top of the South African conference and second place on the global standings after securing a bonus-point (35-33) win over the Lions in a try-feast at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
They outscored the Lions by four tries to three, in a game of high pace and great entertainment value - with both teams willing to stick to an expansive approach.
In the first half the Bulls, showing their willingness to add pace and with to their game in glorious fashion, turned the tables on the Lions. The pace with which the Bulls played certainly exposed the Lions' defence.
Add to that the Bulls' line-out superiority - through the likes of Victor Matfield, Jacques du Plessis and Pieter Labuschagne - and the Lions were left to live of scrappy scraps of possession.
However, once the visitors from Johannesburg had a chance to reassess at the half-time break, they managed to hold onto the ball better. In the first 20 minutes after the break they dominated possession and territory - having as much as 80 percent of the ball.
It allowed them, through a high-paced inter-passing game and scrum dominance, to take the lead midway through then half.
That helped the home team build a commanding lead again and held on in the end when the Lions produced a typical late charge.
After Elton Jantjies missed an early shot at goal, the Bulls burst into life with a two-try blitz.
The first came after a Lions line-out malfunction allowing Arno Botha to go on a run. After a few very effective phases scrumhalf Piet van Zyl darted over from close range - producing a sublime dummy that beat Robbie Coetzee.
Barely two minutes later the Bulls, after Victor Matfield secured a line-out win, the Bulls took it wide to the right and then came back where Arno Botha once again made ground, before he off-loaded to Jan Serfontein, who in turn put Van Zyl into space and over for the second try. Pollard, who missed the first conversion, slotted this one to make it 12-0 after just 10 minutes.
The Lions bounced back with a great try of their own. From a line-out Ruan Combrink bust through a gap and put scrumhalf Francois de Klerk clear for the try. Jantjies' conversion made it 7-12.
Pollard slotted two penalties and Jantjies one, as the Bulls' pressure continued to bring rewards.
On the half-hour mark the Bulls produced another sublime play - from a line-out Pollard combined with Serfontein to put JJ Engelbrecht into a hole, the Springbok's pace and taking him past several defenders on a weaving run to the line. The conversion made it 25-10.
Two minutes from half-time Jantjies narrowed the gap to 13-25 and that is how it stayed to the break.
Jantjies also got the first points of the second half, a penalty five minutes after the break - 16-25. That became 19-25 with another scrum penalty in the 52nd minute.
With the final 10 minutes approaching the Bulls made the Lions pay for another error - Jurgen Visser breaking down the touchline and swerving in-field. Although Warren Whiteley made a great cover tackle, the Lions were penalised at the ruck. Pierre Spies took a quick tap and powered over.
Pollard slotted the conversion and a penalty from 50 metres out - making it 35-26 with five minutes to go.
However, the Lions were not done yet. Replacement scrumhalf Ross Cronje made a break down the middle of the field. He found support in Franco Mostert. The Lions recycled effectively Jantjies made a run at the line - stopped just metres short. Whiteley then played it quickly to Kriel, who charged over. Jantjies' conversion made it a two-point game (33-35) with two minutes remaining.
However, the Bulls hung on, even having another dash at a late try to deny the Lions. It ended with the ball being run into touch and the Bulls securing a bonus-point win.
Man of the match: You can look at the usual suspects - Warren Whiteley, Warwick Tecklenburg, Franco Mostert up front, with backs like Francois de Klerk, Harold Vorster and Ruan Combrink. The Lions' general was flyhalf Elton Jantjies, who continues to produce the form that could win him a World Cup spot. However, their most effective player was flank Jaco Kriel, who got them back into the game on two occasions in the second half. Victor Matfield continued his high workrate and is still a dominant force in the line-outs. Francois Hougaard again impressed on the wing. There was also good work from the loose forwards - Arno Botha, Jacques du Plessis and Pieter Labuschagne. It was the loose forward the got the Bulls the momentum they most needed and the most effective of those was No.8 Arno Botha - who carried strongly, making 75 metres, made all his tackles and also won a few line-outs, including a steal on the Lions' throw.
The scorers:
For the Bulls:
Tries: Van Zyl 2, Engelbrecht, Spies
Cons: Pollard 3
Pens: Pollard 3
For the Lions:
Tries: De Klerk, Van Rooyen, Kriel
Cons: Jantjies 3
Pens: Jantjies 4
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Morné Mellett, 18 Andrew Beerwinkel, 19 Grant Hattingh, 20 Pierre Spies, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Burger Odendaal, 23 Jurgen Visser.
Lions: 15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Andries Coetzee, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Alwyn Hollenbach, 23 Courtnall Skosan.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)