Super Rugby: Six-try Bulls bully Hurricanes
The Bulls climbed to third in the Super Rugby overall standings thanks to a convincing 48-14 win over the Hurricanes.
Last Updated: 04/05/13 8:48pm
The Bulls made it four straight wins on home soil since returning from their overseas tour to maintain their unbeaten record at Loftus Versfeld this season.
The Bulls, who ruled the set pieces, ran rampant in the first half to lead 27-0 at the break thanks to tries from centre JJ Engelbrecht, flanker Deon Stegmann and wing Akona Ndungane.
Engelbrecht and Ndungane capitalised on adventurous passes by the New Zealanders as they scored off intercepts, while Stegmann had an armchair ride at the back of a maul.
The Hurricanes were the better team for large parts of the second half and scrum-half TJ Perenara bagged two tries from long range, but the gap was always going to be too big to close against the well-organised Bulls defence.
The Hurricanes started the second half well as Perenara raced away for the visitors' first score but the Bulls replied via a try from prop Dean Greyling to secure the bonus point, before replacement back Lionel Mapoe waltzed over late on to end any hopes of a 'Canes comeback.
Back-up fly-half Louis Fouchè crossed in the dying minutes for the Bulls' sixth try to remind the Loftus faithful that there is another 10 in Pretoria after Morne Steyn had kicked five conversions and two penalties.
The result sees the Bulls, who can look forward to a bye, reclaim the lead in the South African Conference, two points clear of the Cheetahs, who host the Hurricanes next week.
The Hurricanes look set to be without skipper Conrad Smith for the trip to Bloemfontein after the All Black centre was knocked out cold in a tackle and taken to hospital for precautionary tests.
