Cape Town - The Bulls' Super Rugby playoff hopes hang by a thread after the Pretoria side went down to the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday.
As it happened: Brumbies v Bulls
The Brumbies won 22-16 after leading 8-6 at half-time.
The Brumbies scored three tries through wing Henry Speight (2) and replacement loose forward Jordan Smiler. Flyhalf Christian Lealiifano added two conversions and a penalty.
The Bulls replied a try by replacement Lappies Labuschagne and a conversion and three penalties by flyhalf Handre Pollard.
The Brumbies picked up four points for their victory and moved to the top of the Australian Conference and second into the Overall standings.
The Bulls picked up a point for losing by seven or fewer points, but stayed third in the South African Conference and ninth in the Overall log.
In next weekend's Round 17 action, the Brumbies travel to Perth to play the Force (Friday, June 5 at 13:00), while the Bulls visit Melbourne to tackle the Rebels (Saturday, June 6 at 07:30).
Teams:
Brumbies
15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Scott Sio
Substitutes: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Nigel Ah Wong, 23 James Dargaville
Bulls
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Jacques du Plessis, 20 Lappies Labuschagne, 21 Jacques Louis Potgieter, 22 Travis Ismaiel, 23 Jesse Kriel