The Bulls edged closer to a possible third successive Super 14 semifinal berth on Saturday by trouncing the Lions 31-7 at Ellis Park in spectacular style.
The Bulls had to win the game with a bonus point and a good points difference to overtake the Chiefs on the log standings for fourth place, and they did just that.
In total the visitors scored five tries to one by the Lions.
The Lions came out firing in the first half with centre Jaco Pretorius almost scoring a try from the kick-off, but he was pushed into touch.
Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius then had two shots at goal in the opening ten minutes of the game to put his team in the lead. But he missed both chances.
Unlike the Lions, the Bulls used their first opportunity to put points on the board, with Wynand Olivier rounding off a superb try in the 15th minute from a stolen line-out in their own half.
The Lions hit back just three minutes later when flank Ernst Joubert dived over the line from a rolling maul — ironically the Bulls’ most effective weapon — which Pretorius slotted over with ease, giving the home team a two-point lead.
This lead was short-lived as Bulls wing Akona Ndungane stretched over the line in the 24th minute thanks to smooth passing by his teammates. But Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard again missed the conversion, giving the Bulls a slender 10-7 lead.
The Lions, however, deserve credit for their resilient defence, as they countered the Bulls’ rolling mauls very well in the first half, as well as the Bulls’ dangerous driving close to the try line.
The Bulls wasted no time in getting on the front foot in the second half with Olivier running in his second try just one minute after the break from a good switch pass by Hougaard, which increased the score line to 17-7.
Matfield had a chance to score the bonus-point try just minutes later, but he touched the sideline just short of the try line.
The Bulls continued to take advantage of the holes in the Lions defence in search of their bonus-point try to stay in the race for a semifinal berth and were rewarded for their efforts in the 53rd minute. Lightning-fast Springbok wing Bryan Habana darted in for their bonus point try. This converted try gave the Bulls a handy 17-point lead.
The Lions received a golden opportunity in the 62nd min to reduce the deficit with a two-man overlap on the wing, which would have resulted in a guaranteed try, but lock Cobus Grobler knocked the ball on. The Lions had another opportunity to score seconds later, but they knocked the ball on again 3m from the Bulls line.
To add insult to injury, the Bulls continued to tame the Lions with their intimidating driving, which resulted in centre JP Nel diving over the try line for the visitors’ fifth try, taking the score to 31-7. — Sapa