Super Rugby: Bulls 20-56 Lions
Last Updated: 28/05/16 9:42pm
The Lions won their Super Rugby clash at the Loftus Versfeld stadium fortress of neighbours Bulls with a stunning, seven-try 56-20 triumph.
Recalled fly-half Marnitz Boshoff, making his first appearance this season in place of injured star Elton Jantjies, kicked two early penalties to set the trend on a chilly Highveld night in Pretoria.
By half-time, the Johannesburg visitors were 25-8 ahead having scored three tries against opponents who could barely get out of first gear before a 30,000 crowd.
Seven of the Lions squad, including De Klerk, were later chosen by new national coach Allister Coetzee for a three-Test home series against Ireland during June.
An unexpectedly wide winning margin took Lions seven points clear of second-place Sharks, whom they host at Ellis Park stadium on July 2, in the Africa 2 conference standings
After losing at home for the first time this season, Bulls dropped to second in the Africa 1 table, four points below Stormers, who beat Cheetahs 31-24 earlier in Cape Town.
Both conference winners are guaranteed home quarter-finals while only the higher placed of the two Africa runners-up qualify for the knockout stage of the 18-franchise competition.
Relegated from Super Rugby in 2012, the Lions regained top flight status a year later and have been improving consistently under coach and former Springboks lock Johan Ackermann.
Rohan Janse van Rensburg claimed two tries and fellow centre Lionel Mapoe, prop Julian Redelinghuys, loose forwards Jaco Kriel and Warren Whiteley and De Klerk one each.
Boshoff was in superb place-kicking form as he racked up 21 points, slotting six conversions and three penalties, many from difficult angles.
Bulls centre Jesse Kriel, skipper and hooker Adriaan Strauss and substitute loose forward Dean Stegmaan scored a try each, while fly-half Francois Brummer kicked a penalty and his replacement, Tian Schoeman, a conversion after returning from the sin bin.
