Bulls run riot

The Bulls posted an emphatic 59-26 win over the Blues at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in a highly entertaining match that saw 11 tries scored.

The Bulls got off to the best start possible with four quick-fire tries in the opening quarter that not only gave them an impressive lead, but an early bonus point with barely a drop of sweat to show for their efforts.

The first assault on the Blues' line came from Bulls' flyer Bryan Habana, who followed up a Fourie du Preez grubber kick with pace and determination for a well-taken opening touchdown with only four minutes of rugby played.

A faultless start followed up by a superb touchline conversion by Morne Steyn - who put in a near-perfect kicking display with the boot - had the blue flags at Loftus waving with glee.

And it did not stop there, the Bulls piled on a further three tries thanks to some brilliant interplay between forwards and backs that was soon rewarded with tries to Deon Stegmann, Zane Kirchner and Pierre Spies.

Bulldozing

Stegmann manoeuvred his way over from close range after a bulldozing run from Spies allowed the flanker to take the spoils for his first Super 14 try.

Kirchner followed suit five minutes later with a solo run that ended in another seven-pointer, with Spies continuing the Bulls momentum with a power-driven run to the line.

All tries - except for one - expertly converted by the majestic boot of Steyn.

At 26-0, the Blues looked dead and buried but showed tremendous character to claw - if only slightly - their way back with a hard-running try to speedster Rene Ranger who was the pick of the visitors' backs.

Blues pivot Jimmy Gopperth finally got to test out his trusty right boot with a helpful conversion from the sideline. The Blues were on the board at last.

Steyn was quick to repel any fightback the Blues had to offer with a cheeky drop-goal when nothing was on for his team, but was left to watch the ball sail over from under his own posts thanks to a converted try to centre Anthony Tuitavake.

The All Black winger showing plenty of clout from a planned set move that had three Bulls players hanging on his back as the Blues ace motored his way over the opposition's chalkdust.

Steyn was on hand to add his first of three penalties before the break to give the rampant hosts a commanding 32-14 half-time lead that the Blues never came close to closing.

Caught napping

Gopperth added another three points immediately after the restart but it was not long after that Du Preez caught the visiting defence napping when he latched onto a straight pass from the line-out to score on the left.

After another Steyn conversion, Stegman was yellow carded for not keeping his feet on the ground at the ruck and the Blues capitalised with Benson Stanley ending a wave of attacking intent by driving over on the left.

Steyn immediately added a penalty, before Isaia Toeava claimed a fourth-try bonus point for the visitors when the ball was worked wide to him on the right and he ghosted past Habana to score.

But a second try from Spies and another from Wynand Olivier - both converted by Burton Francis - helped add the cherry on the top for the Bulls, who moved top of the table with their biggest ever win over the Blues.