Do you realize what this means for Bulls rugby? This was another step up. And be afraid we will go even higher.

To our Sanzar friends in New Zealand and Australia who lost total intrest in this title challenge i have words that cant be spoken here. Shame on you. Now after this final it is OK to concentrate on the test and 3N series but dammit you fought for this very same title the Bulls won for a 3rd time , for weeks, why so quick to make it worthless? Shame on you, and i hope the Springboks teach you some manners in the upcoming Tests.

The Game.

First five Morne Steyn has kicked 20 points to help the Bulls clinch their third Super 14 title in four years as they beat South African rivals the Stormers 25-17 in the final at the Orlando Stadium.

Steyn kicked six penalties and converted Francois Hougaard’s brilliant individual try to make sure the holders were always clear of a Stormers team that fought back bravely in the second half from a 16-3 deficit at the break.

The Bulls enjoyed a telling advantage at scrum time, with three of Steyn’s penalties coming after the retreating Stormers had infringed in that set-piece.

Hougaard’s try came in the 25th minute as he sped through a gap in the Stormers’ defensive line between locks Andries Bekker and Adriaan Fondse, running from the 10 metre line before sidestepping fullback Joe Pietersen in the last line of defence.

The try capped a thoroughly dominant first half for the Bulls, who looked well in control as Steyn added three penalties to the try, so it came as a surprise when the home side made a scrappy start to the second half and allowed the visitors from Cape Town back into the game.

Wing Bryan Habana scored an opportunist intercept try in the 54th minute when Steyn passed straight to his former team mate after the Bulls won messy ball from a ruck on their own 10m line. Habana scored under the poles to give first five Peter Grant an easy conversion, putting the Stormers back into contention at 16-10 down.

But with a capacity crowd of 36,000 providing a sea of light blue support, with the noisy accompaniment of plastic horns known locally as “vuvuzelas”, the Bulls remained composed and shut out the Stormers by playing in their territory and earning penalties.

The Stormers, in their first Super 14 final, did claim a second try with just two minutes remaining when sniping halfback Enrico Januarie was stopped just short of the line, but flanker Francois Louw picked up the ball and scored.

Does this version sound right?

Anyway the Bulls had the guts and determination to pull this one through. And we earend the right to brag as the 2nd best ever S14 team. Yes from now on the Bulls will step on the accelerator and the rest will play catch – up.