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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert
Follow on @herman_mostert or send suggestions to: herman.mostert@sa.24.com
19:04 - SUMMARY
The Bulls were full value for their win. They were better at set pieces, and won the tactical battle.
After his heroics from the last two weeks, Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff was this time overshadowed by his opposite number, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, who controlled the game with his boot.
In next week's action, the Bulls host the Blues at Loftus, while the Lions travel to Durban to face the Sharks.
Be sure to follow Sport24 for more interactive commentary during this year's Super Rugby competition.
19:04 - PICTURE
Lions skipper Warren Whiteley on the charge... (Gallo Images)
19:02 - QUOTES
“I think the Bulls were tactically better than us. They did the basics well and put us under pressure. The conditions were difficult, but no excuses. It’s back to the drawing board for us,” said Lions captain Warren Whiteley.
“It’s very good to be back at Loftus, very good to have our own crowd. We talked about converting and I think we managed to convert our chances. We let a few tires in, so we’ve still got some work ahead,” said Bulls captain Flip van der Merwe.
18:59 - MAN-OF-THE-MATCH
Bulls flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter was the standout player.
Well deserved! He definitely won the tactical battle with Marnitz Boshoff.
18:59 - FAN VIEWS ON MATCH
They deserved the win. Lions not experienced enough to handle weather like that...Wasn't a pretty game - Justin Armstrong
The bulls played the most beautiful rugby and will win the super rugby - Bruce Geldenhuys
No comment...yet...still in shock... - Almarie Schoültz
Oh gawd, here we go, this will be a week of hell dominated by blabbing coming out of Pretoria about how they'll win super rugby and dominate the universe.... Yawn - Jason Kelland
Fourth cup coming up. 4 More than the Stormers and Sharks combined. Back on track - Bull Dozer
18:56 - PICTURE
Victor Matfield's experience definitely counted for the Bulls ... - Blue Bulls Facebook page
18:51 - One last surge on the Lions tryline by Bulls... They can't finish off and that's it.
FULL-TIME: Bulls 25-17 Lions.
18:50 - CONVERSION by Boshoff. But it's too little, too late. Bulls 25-17 Lions after 79 minutes. Best Lions can hope for is a bonus point.
18:49 - TRY! Willie Wepener scores after charging down Francois Hougaard's kick! Matfield stole the Lions lineout but his scrumhalf messed up the good work.
18:45 - Lions assault on Bulls line is stopped just short...
18:45 - BULLS SUBSTITUTION
Bongi Mbonambi on at hooker for Callie Visagie.
18:44 - PENALTY converted by Potgieter. Bulls 25-10 Lions after 74 minutes.
GAME OVER I'd say...
18:43 - Another scrum penalty for the Bulls and Potgieter has a chance to put the game to bed. He lines up from about 45m out...
18:42 - The Lions try to attack from just inside their own half, but Watermeyer knocks on...
18:41 - This time the Lions win a penalty at scrum time and Boshoff can bring relief...
18:40 - OWN LINEOUTS WON
Bulls 13/13
Lions 7/8
18:40 - Lions lose their first lineout, but it's crucially inside their own 22...
18:39 - NEW LIONS SCRUMHALF
Ross Cronjé on for Faf de Klerk.
18:37 - Another miss from Potgieter. Again he had the legs, but just pulls it to the left... That would have put the Bulls 15 points clear with 11 minutes left.
So the Lions remain in with a shot...
18:36 - Bulls dominant at scrum time now. They win another penalty there just inside their own half.
Potgieter will line up...
18:32 - Some good defence forcing the Lions out in the Bulls' 22m area after a prolonged period of attack by the visitors.
18:30 - WHOLE LIONS FRONT ROW OFF
Willie Wepener, Jacques van Rooyen and Ruan Dreyer on for Robbie Coetzee, Schalk van der Merwe and Julian Redelinghuys.
18:29 - PENALTY converted. Bulls 22-10 Lions after 62 minutes.
18:28 - Potgieter lines up about 20m form the touchline...
18:28 - The substitutes seem to have worked for the Bulls as they demolish the Lions scrum and receive a penalty.
18:26 - LIONS SUBSTITUTES
Coenie van Wyk on for fullback Chrysander Botha and Willie Britz on for flank Jaco Kriel.
18:24 - BULLS SUBSTITUTES
Jacques Engelbrecht on for Grant Hattingh, and Marcel van der Merwe on for Dean Greyling.
18:22 - PICTURE
Bjorn Basson wins a high ball... - Blue Bulls Facebook page
18:19 - The Bulls, via flyhalf Potgieter, are winning the kicking game at the moment. He is pegging the Lions back in their own half...
18:17 - HANDLING ERRORS
Bulls 4
Lions 3
18:15 - Potgieter lines up a penalty attempt from just outside his own half... but he misses by pulling it slightly to the left. Had the legs though!
18:13 - BULLS REPLACEMENT
Werner Kruger on at tighthead prop for Frik Kirsten.
18:13 - QUOTE
"Scrum battle fairly even so far," says former Bok prop Rob Kempson.
18:12 - An attacking chance for the Bulls outside the Lions 22m area goes awry as No 7 Jacques du Plessis knocks it on... Another scrum...
18:10 - Just way too much kicking going on at the moment!
18:05 - An early ding-dong kicking battle to start the second period. The Lions win the mini battle as Boshoff kicks it into touch on the Bulls 22m line...
18:04 - Potgieter gets the second half underway...
17:59 - Bulls flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter definitely the best player on the park in the first period.
17:58 - QUOTE
"This is by far the best Bulls performance of the season. By far," says in-studio pundit Naas Botha.
They haven't played too well these last few weeks so I guess it's a no brainer...
17:52 - PICTURE
Jan Serfontein on his way to the tryline - Blue Bulls Facebook page
17:52 - The Bulls kick it out and that's HALF-TIME: Bulls 19-10 Lions
17:51 - Boshoff surprisingly hits the posts. That's his first miss of the season!
17:50 - The Lions hit back right from the kick-off when the Bulls lose possession. Penalty for the visitors and Boshoff will line up about 15m from touch...
17:50 - PENALTY slotted by Potgieter. Bulls 19-10 Lions after 39 minutes.
17:48 - The Lions under more pressure and make a horrible mess of a lineout inside their own 22m area. Wing Ruan Combrinck knocks it on after the ball was tapped back from the lineout, putting the forwards in front of him off-side when they try to play it.
Potgieter will line up....
17:45 - Referee Chris Pollock is also asking the TMO for potential foul play by Watermeyer. He drove Engelbrecht to the ground in what looked like a tip tackle.
Pollock sees it on the big screen and says a yellow card is not needed. He warns Watermeyer though and said he would have given a penalty had the drop goal not been converted...
Bulls 16-10 Lions after 36 minutes.
17:44 - DROP GOAL by Potgieter as the Bulls hit straight back. Bulls 16-10 after 35 minutes.
17:42 - PENALTY converted by Boshoff. Bulls 13-10 Lions after 33 minutes.
17:40 - Lions into the Bulls 22m area after a great up-and-under from scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is poorly dealt with by the Bulls...
The hosts transgress at the breakdown and Boshoff will line up from in front...
17:39 - Wing Akona Ndungane doing well on defence for the Bulls. He has snuffed out three Lions attacks!
17:38 - Apologies for delayed updates. Internet services crippled.
17:37 - PICTURE
Rainy Loftus and the fans still screaming!! Hard game thus far - Gert van der Merwe
17:32 - Potgieter CONVERTS. Bulls 13-7 Lions after 24 minutes.
17:31 - TRY! The Bulls hit right back on the counter attack. It goes through the hands and Bjorn Basson sprints down the touchline and passes inside to Jan Serfontein who sores next to the posts.
17:28 - 20 Minutes in and the Lions look to have found their feet after a strong start by the hosts. They attack close to the Bulls 22m area. But hey lose possession and the Bulls get a scrum just outside their 22m area..
17:25 - TWEET
That will be a sweet score for watermeyer. Never understood why the bulls didnt keep him around. Same for CJ Stander - Zelim Nel
17:24 - Lions immediately under pressure when Warwick Tecklenburg can't take the kick-off cleanly. The Bulls get a chance to attack but Potgieter kicks it over the dead-ball line...
17:22 - CONVERSION from Boshoff.
Bulls 6-7 Lions after 13 minutes.
17:19 - TRY! Stefan Watermeyer scores right from the kick-off after he charges down Jurgen Visser's kick.
17:19 - PENALTY converted. Bulls 6-0 Lions after 11 minutes.
17:18 - It's right in front, about 30m out...
17:17 - Potgieter lines up a drop goal but misses... However, the Lions are penalised when captain Warren Whiteley goes off-side. Another three pointer coming up...
17:16 - Bulls back on the attack after Bjorn Basson wins a high ball...
17:15 - PENALTY converted by Potgieter. Bulls 3-0 Lions after 8 minutes. Dominant start by the home side.
17:14 - First chance at points for the Bulls as Potgieter lines up a penalty from the touchline... His career kicking success rate is only 62%...
17:11 - Bulls chance gone begging after JJ Engelbrecht and Jan Serfontein drop the ball in front of the posts by bumping into each other...
Flyhalf Potgieter put through a brilliant chip-kick in behind the Lions defence, but there was no communication between the two centres. Certain try under posts gone missing.
17:08 - And immediately the Lions are penalised at the first scrum. Julian Redelinghuys slipped and was punished.
17:07 - The Lions lose their first lineout when Robbie Coetzee throws in skew... First scrum coming up.
17:06 - Marnitz Boshoff starts proceedings...
17:04 - Steve Hofmeyer's 'Blou Bul' still greets the Bulls as they run out...
17:03 - Slow persistent rain expected for the duration of the game. Expect a few knock-ons and collapsed scrums...
17:03 - Should the Lions win today, it would be their best ever start to a Super Rugby season.
16:59 - It looks like a disappointing turnout at Loftus today. Weather, and the Bulls' form to blame!
16:52 - CONDITIONS
Rainy conditions at Loftus.
This just emphasises the flyhalf duel as just mentioned...!
16:50 - It will also be interesting to see the duel at flyhalf between Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Marnitz Boshoff.
Potgieter is back in the Bulls fold after a few years (May 2011 v Stormers to be exact) while Boshoff will be eager to impress his former employers who didn't want him...
16:47 - 2005 was the last time the Bulls lost their first three games on the trot.
Many scribes and pundits believe that will happen again today. It is highly likely, given the Lions' great start to the season.
However, the Bulls are playing at home and will be desperate for a win. This can go either way!
16:00 - CHALLENGE THE SPORT24 'EXPERTS'
If you haven't already joined the Sport24 SuperBru Super Rugby challenge, do so NOW!
16:00 - SUPERBRU WEEK 3 PICKS
Have you made your Week 3 picks?
16:00 - WATCH THOSE NO 9s!
Sanzar has sent a stern message to referees - to ensure scrumhalves feed the ball correctly into the scrum.
Click HERE to read the full article...
OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Sieg van Staden (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
RECENT RESULTS
2012: Bulls won 37-20, Pretoria
2012: Bulls won 32-18, Johannesburg
2011: Bulls won 30-23, Pretoria
2011: Bulls won 24-20, Johannesburg
2010: Bulls won 51-11, Pretoria
2009: Bulls won 16-9, Johannesburg
TEAMS:
Bulls
15
Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein,
11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8
Grant Hattingh, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Victor Matfield, 4
Flip van der Merwe (captain), 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean
Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Werner Kruger, 18
Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Paul Willemse, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht, 21 Piet
van Zyl, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Ulrich Beyers
Lions
15.
Chrysander Botha, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. JW Jonker , 12. Stefan
Watermeyer, 11. Ruan Combrinck, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8.
Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Warwick Tecklenburg, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5.
Franco van der Merwe, 4. Franco Mostert, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2.
Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16. Willie
Wepener, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni , 20.
Willie Britz, 21. Ross Cronjé, 22. Courtnall Skosan, 23. Coenie van Wyk
Welcome
to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's Super
Rugby match between the Bulls and Lions at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
