As it happened: 'Canes v Bulls

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Commentary by Sport24's Garrin Lambley

10:22 - Thanks for joining us this morning!

Be sure to stayed glued to Sport24, South Africa's No 1 sporting website, for Live Updates from this afternoon's THREE Vodacom Super Rugby matches in SA...

Cheetahs v Chiefs - 15:00
Lions v Crusaders - 17:05
Stormers v Waratahs - 19:10

10:21 - In next weekend's Round 9 action, the Hurricanes have a bye, while the Bulls travel to Dunedin to face the Highlanders (Friday, April 11 at 09:35)

10:20 - The Bulls pick up a single point for losing by seven or fewer points. They jump to second in the SA Conference and fourth in the Overall standings.

10:19 - The Hurricanes pick up four points for their victory to second in the New Zealand Conference and seventh in the Overall log.

10:19 - The Hurricanes have won 25-20 as Barrett lands an injury-time penalty.

10:18 - FULL-TIME in Napier!

10:17 - Penalty to the Bulls - and they take it quickly.

Bad mistake as the Hurricanes force the Bulls towards the touchline. Big tackle from the medium-sized Beauden Barrett

10:15 - But they too knock on. Scrum to the Bulls in the shadow on their own posts as the clock shows 78:53...

10:15 - Another scrum, this time to the Hurricanes, as time ticks down to the final 120 seconds...

10:14 - Huge, and I mean H-U-G-E backline defence by the Hurricanes forces the Bulls into a forward pass.

Take a bow, Conrad Smith...

10:12 - Four minutes to play in Napier. Can the Bulls mount a comeback?

If so, they'll have to do it from their own half...

10:10 - The Hurricanes wary of the Bulls' lineout and rolling maul refusing to kick for touch.

Costing them though as the Bulls simply return the mid-field kicks with aplomb

10:09 - Penalty to the Hurricanes and that man Barrett lands a fantastic long-range kick.

Hurricanes back in the lead 22-20 after 73 minutes

10:08 - Dewald Potgieter interviewed on the touchline confirms he has a bicep injury

10:08 - TWEET

No matter the result ... Incredible character shown by Bulls ... Captaincy tick for Flip Vd Merwe I reckon - Front Row Grunt

10:05 - Ill-discipline by the Hurricanes sees TJ Perenara throw the ball in the face of a Bulls player.

The Bulls will be thrilled they are getting under the skins of a flustered Hurricanes side

10:03 - And the Bulls take the lead for the first time in the match as Pollard converts his own try.

Bulls lead 20-19 after 68 minutes!

10:03 - Handre Pollard slices through the Hurricanes' backline to score!

10:02 - TRY!

10:01 - Well done to Francois Hougaard for milking that penalty!

Slapping the Hurricanes player on the ground who had no chance to roll away.

Pollard puts the ball into touch 6m from the 'Canes line.

Rolling maul time!

10:00 - The kick is OVER!

Finally a change to the half-time score as the Hurricanes stretch their lead to 19-13 after 65 minutes

10:00 - The Hurricanes break out from their own 22m in fantastic fashion and go close to scoring.

Ref Walsh awards them a penalty which Barrett will kick for goal...

9:57 - The Bulls put a rolling maul into motion and make good metres before it comes to nought

9:55 - The Hurricanes continue to hold onto their 16-13 lead from half-time as 61 minutes elapses

9:55 - But it's a SHOCKER!

Hooked woefully away to the left of the uprights

9:53 - Penalty to the Bulls and Pollard will have a chance to level the scores...

9:50 - Julian Savea breaks more tackles. I'd love to know how many that is tonight...

But the Hurricanes knock on and the Bulls are back on attack

9:49 - More messy play from both sides with THREE knock-ons.

Advantage finally over. Scrum to the Bulls just inside their own half.

9:46 - Bulls looking far better in the second half. Silly errors just costing them points at present as the clock ticks past the 51 minute mark...

9:44 - And they do so well and are awarded a penalty which Jacques-Louis Potgieter clears to touch - and immediately thereafter limps off the field.

Replaced by Handre Pollard

9:43 - It's now the Bulls' time to defend as the 'Canes enter their 22m area

9:42 - The Bulls elect to take a scrum, clear the ball under pressure but concede a penalty for holding on as Jack Lam is all over the ball like white on rice

9:40 - Bit of a stop-start affair to the second half with more injury delays. 

Scrum time - and the first skew put-in of the match goes against the Hurricanes.

Honestly no change to every other feed this match...

9:37 - Bulls on the attack!

This match is still there for the winning for the men from Pretoria as the Hurricanes show both the good - and the bad - in their game...

9:36 - MORE FIRST HALF STATS

Running metres first half:

Hurricanes: 306
Bulls 92

Tackles made:

Hurricanes 27
Bulls: 97

9:35 - AMAZING STAT

Flip van der Merwe made 16 tackles in the first half - some players don't do that in a game!

9:34 - No changes to either team at the break

9:34 - AND WE'RE UNDER WAY IN NAPIER!

9:21 - The Hurricanes hold a slender 16-13 lead after the first 40 minutes.

Join us in 10 minutes for the second stanza!

9:21 - And that's HALF-TIME in Napier

9:17 - And among all that frantic action, Dewald 'Mad Dog' Potgieter is forced to leave the field clutching his arm

9:17 - Jacques-Louis Potgieter adds the conversion and the Hurricanes now lead 16-13 after 36 minutes

9:16 - Shock all round at the stadium - and the rest of the world I'd suggest

9:16 - But just like that the Bulls hit back through a try by fullback Jurgen Visser!

9:16 - TRY!

9:15 - That man Barrett on target again with a penalty.

The Hurricanes lead 16-6 after 34 minutes

9:14 - PICTURE

Can you see the Bulls... ? - All Blacks

9:11 - Ben Franks forced to leave the field, replaced by Reggie Goodes

9:10 - Referee Steve Walsh penalises the Hurricanes at the scrum for something unclear to pretty much the rest of the world...

9:08 - The Bulls cut the Hurricanes' lead to 13-6 after 29 minutes

9:08 - And it's GOOD!

9:08 - Jacques-Louis Potgieter lines up a penalty at posts from 38.6m out...

9:07 - And the commentators mention Callie Visagie's name for the very first time as he throws in at a lineout...

9:06 - Everyone keeps telling me that Bulls centre pairing JJ Engelbrecht and Jan Serfontein are world class.

Until I see ANY indication, the jury is still out...

9:05 - TWEET

Beauden Barrett has taken his game to another level this year. All Blacks well stocked at 10 with Dan Carter and Aaron Cruden too - Jon Cardinelli

9:03 - TWEET

And on cue, there's the Front Row Grunt!

Bulls monstered in a scrum ... Franks eats Greyling, pausing only for popcorn and a strawberry slush ... Getting untidy for the camo boys

9:02 - Barrett lands a second penalty as the Hurricanes once again restore their 10-point lead.

Hurricanes up 13-3 after 22 minutes

9:01 - Jacques-Louis Potgieter gets bandaged up. His leg certainly not at 100% right now

9:01 - Bulls' pack absolutely MONSTERED in that scrum!

Where is Tank Lanning when you need him!?

8:59 - Potgieter gets the Bulls on the scoreboard with a penalty.

Hurricanes lead 10-3 after 20 minutes

8:56 - Tweets flying in thick and fast - here are some of the better ones...

Bulls looking completely flustered! Like U12B asked to play first XV ... - Front Row Grunt

Anyone seen Callie Visagie this game? Is the camo working that well? - Brenden Nel

Fired-up Dewald P has now accidentally taken out two teammates: Steggies (off) and sub Jacques du Plessis! - Rob Houwing

8:55 - Barrett's conversion is GOOD!

The Hurricanes lead 10-0 after 17 minutes

8:55 - Nothing less than they deserve. They've played all the rugby to date.

8:54 - Nice cross-kick for Barrett is controlled by Cory Jane, who passes inside to Andre Taylor who scores for the Hurricanes!

8:54 - TRY!

8:54 - The Bulls lacking composure in the early stages as the are forced to concede a 5m scrum

8:53 - If you missed the mid-week rolling maul spat, read all about it HERE

8:51 - The Bulls set in motion one of their "controversial" rolling mauls, but Francois Hougaard clears it the backline, but flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter picks up a dead leg as the Hurricanes win another penalty for holding on.

8:49 - TWEET

This camo kit is working so well I haven't seen the Bulls in the opening 10 minutes of this game. - Cindy Poluta

8:47 - Penalty to the Hurricanes as Jan Serfontein holds onto the ball in the tackle.

Hurricanes flyhalf Beauden Barrett lands the three-pointer to give the 'Canes a 3-0 lead after 10 minutes.

The Bulls will settle for that as they finally get into the home side's half from the restart...

8:46 - Incredible stats... after EIGHT minutes, Hurricanes No 9 TJ Perenara has handled the ball 28 times!

8:45 - Jacques du Plessis on as his replacement

8:44 - Bulls players down all over the field as the Hurricanes knock on.

Deon Stegmann looks the worst - and he's off!

8:43 - Good old fashioned South African defence at its best - for now...

8:41 - Six minutes gone and the Bulls haven't been in the Hurricanes' half

8:41 - The Hurricanes really testing the Bulls defence early on. Bulls being asked to make a number of tackles.

Not ideal for the men from Pretoria...

8:40 - DID YOU KNOW?

The Bulls have not lost to Hurricanes since the 2008 season, won four on the trot including two wins in NZ...

8:38 - TWEET

Canary yellow vs camo green. The mind boggles. #colourzoo #dontwatchifuhaveahangover #ssrugby - Brenden Nel

Its the camo-bulls. Aargh - my eyes! - Brenden Nel

8:38 - The Bulls are playing in their new "camo" jerseys, something that doesn't impress SuperSport scribe Brenden Nel...

8:35 - Steve Walsh to referee the match - which tells me literally ANYTHING could happen today...

8:35 - The Bulls and Hurricanes run onto the field in Napier. Perfect playing conditions according to the NZ commentators

8:35 - Morning Sport24 Facebook sports fans!

Massive day of Super Rugby - FIVE matches in total - starting with the Hurricanes v Bulls clash in Napier!

All today's matches:

Hurricanes v Bulls - 08:35
Reds v Western Force - 10:40     
Cheetahs v Chiefs - 15:00     
Lions v Crusaders - 17:05
Stormers v Waratahs - 19:10

08:00 - SPORT24 'EXPERT' PICKS

Sport24's self-proclaimed expert - Editor Garrin Lambley - gives you his thoughts on today's match.

Click HERE for Garrin's prediction...

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OFFICIALS

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

RECENT RESULTS

2013: Bulls won 48-14, Pretoria
2011: Bulls won 26-14, Napier
2010: Bulls won 19-18, Pretoria
2009: Bulls won 19-14, Wellington
2008: Hurricanes won 50-22, Pretoria
2007: Hurricanes won 17-9, Wellington

TEAMS

Hurricanes

15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks

Substitutes: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Reggie Goodes, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Hadleigh Parkes, 23 Marty Banks

Bulls

15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Flip van der Merwe (captain), 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Morné Mellett, 19 Grant Hattingh, 20 Jacques du Plessis, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Ulrich Beyers

Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and Bulls from Napier!