Bulls edge out Sunwolves 30-27 in Super Rugby thriller

Rudy Paige of the Bulls (C) makes a break against the Sunwolves

The Bulls overcame the Sunwolves 30-27 in Singapore to claim their first Super Rugby away win in more than three years.

The new Japanese franchise came agonisingly close to registering their first win since joining the expanded competition this season, scoring three spectacular tries against the three-time champions, but had to settle for a second losing bonus point.

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They caught the Bulls by surprise to score the opening try after less than two minutes when the South Africans failed to clean up a clever chip-kick from Riaan Viljoen and openside flanker Andrew Durutalo crashed over.

Tusi Pisi of the Sunwolves (L) makes a pass

Samoan fly-half Tusi Pisi converted and added a penalty shortly after but the Sunwolves spent the rest of the first half defending, giving away 10 penalties in the opening 40 minutes and losing Tomas Leonardi for 10 minutes for a cynical penalty.

Fly-half Tiaan Schoeman booted three penalties to cut the margin to a point before the South Africans took advantage of their one-man advantage and dominance of the line-outs when Adriaan Strauss scored off a driving maul.

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Watch the funny moment a line-out routine went horribly wrong for the Sunwolves as one player manages to hit his own teammate!

The Bulls stretched their lead to 23-10 seven minutes into the second half when they scored another try from the line-out through Roelof Smit, but just when it looked like they might run away with the match, the Sunwolves hit back.

Akihito Yamada sprints for the line to score against the Bulls

Pisi landed a long-range penalty, then helped set up a spectacular try that began inside the Sunwolves and ended with winger Akhito Yamada bulldozing his way past Warrick Gelant to score at the other end.

Pisi converted from out wide to get the Sunwolves within three.

Viljoen struck the upright with a 55m penalty attempt before the Bulls regained control with a contentious try, scored by Jamba Ulengo, who was ruled to have grounded the ball into the post pads, after the incident was referred to the video official.

Needing a last-minute try to salvage a bonus point, the Sunwolves were rewarded for their perseverance when replacement Yuki Yamtomi darted through a giant hole in the South African line-out to score from the final play of the game.