Chiefs (13) 19 / Bulls (15) 33 (Final Score)

The Chiefs hosted the Bulls at the Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Bulls won 33 / 19 but for most of the match the Bulls supporters had their hearts in their mouths. The Bulls managed to score 4 tries for an added bonus point and are back at the top of the Log on 33 Log points after their 8 games.

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The Bulls web site describes the win as follows:

The Vodacom Bulls are back on top of the Vodacom Super 14 log after beating the Chiefs 33-19 in Hamilton on Friday.

The Bulls, who scored twice in each half, was 15-13 up at the break, but some ill-discipline saw the home side surge ahead 19-15 through the boot of Stephen Donald. Mornè Steyn, who had a mixed day with the boot, kicked two penalties to get his side in front again and then Fourie du Preez struck.

The Bulls scrumhalf broke clear from halfway and although he was stopped short of the line, the Bulls held on to the ball and worked Gary Botha over. Steyn converted and with the Bulls 28-19 ahead with ten minutes to go, a first-ever win at Waikato stadium seemed imminent.

It was even more so when Du Preez intercepted a Chiefs pass and ran 80 meters to score, only for the try to be disallowed. Touch judge Kane Mcbride picked up a late tackle by Deon Stegmann in an earlier movement and instead of celebrating their bonus point try, the Bulls were looking at the Chiefs flyhalf to cut the deficit and bring the home side back in the game.

Incredibly, he missed from right in front. The Bulls then stepped it up once again and when Dewald Potgieter crashed over from a line-out maul, the home side were truly beaten.

The Bulls will be happy with their performances in the scrums and line-outs, where the rolling maul became more and more effective as the game wore on.

The backs defended stoutly and ran in a great try via Gerhard van den Heever. Zane Kirchner was outstanding in defence and the Chiefs could only break the Bulls defense lines with an opportunistic try by Brendon Leonard.

Scores:

Chiefs: 1 Conversion & 4 Penalties Stephen Donald, 1 Try Brendon Leonard

Bulls: 3 Penalties & 2 Conversion Morné Steyn, 1 Try Gerhard van den Heever, 1 Try Pierre Spies, 1 Try Gary Botha, 1 Try Dewald Potgieter

Teams:

Chiefs: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Stephen Donald, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (captain), 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Vern Kamo, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Colin Bourke 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Callum Bruce, 22 Jackson Willison.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Kane McBride, Shane McDermott
TMO: Ben Skeen