The Bulls caused some nerve-racking moments for themselves, but eventually tightened up to produce a 31-19 United Rugby Championship bonus-point win over the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Coach Jake White will be pleased with the character shown by his side in the second half as it was all to play for at halftime, when the hosts led just 17-14 as the Lions clawed their way back from a 17-0 deficit after just 14 minutes.
But the Bulls kept the Lions largely at bay in the final quarter to get back on track after their 29-19 defeat to the Sharks last weekend.
It was one-way traffic in the opening quarter as the Bulls ran in three tries, and it looked like it was going to be a long, hot afternoon for the Johannesburg outfit.
The home team appeared to rediscover their rhythm on attack, with much-maligned flyhalf Willie le Roux controlling the flow much better than against the Sharks and Stormers in the last fortnight.
Ever the maverick on attack, Le Roux sometimes gets in his own way, but he was much more assured with his decision-making and execution this time around – and the Bulls flourished as a result, with the forwards also providing front-foot ball from the scrums.
Le Roux delivered the scoring pass in the third minute for the opening Bulls try by Canan Moodie, who did well to step past a few Lions defenders to dot down.
Moodie with a madness 👀#BULvLIO | @Vodacom #URC | #VupYourSummer pic.twitter.com/g2QqwPNZfY
The momentum was with the Bulls for a change – compared to the stop-start efforts over the last few weeks – and after a brilliant 50-22 touch-finder by fullback Devon Williams, Le Roux cut through from the lineout to grab the second touchdown.
The third Bulls try was the best of the match as Williams sliced through the Lions defence from a well-weighted Le Roux pass out wide, and the No 15 chipped ahead for the ball to bounce perfectly for Sebastian de Klerk to score.
The Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby are unleashed 🤯#BULvLIO | @Vodacom #URC | #VupYourSummer pic.twitter.com/c2PAwYyWvc
But the Bulls played right into the Lions’ hands by continuing to push the envelope on attack and not kicking the ball into touch in general play.
Star wing Edwill van der Merwe soon pounced and chipped ahead, and Henco van Wyk took a quick tap penalty and forced his way over – with Stedman Gans also getting a yellow card for offside.
Emirates @LionsRugbyCo claw one back 👊#BULvLIO | @Vodacom #URC | #VupYourSummer pic.twitter.com/mYsI8xVMp7
The Lions fight-back continued as hooker PJ Botha barged over following another terrific Van Wyk run in which he shrugged off a Moodie tackle, and suddenly it was 17-14.
The Bulls wasted further opportunities either side of halftime, with No 8 Mpilo Gumede being held up by Van der Merwe, and a few knock-ons halting them in their tracks.
They were eventually rewarded when Moodie grabbed his second five-pointer as the Bulls showed better patience with ball-in-hand, and that was followed by a Marco van Staden effort to put his team well clear at 31-14.
The Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby are keeping the Emirates @LionsRugbyCo on the hunt at Loftus 🐂
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) February 22, 2025
They lead by 🔟#BULvLIO | @Vodacom #URC | #VupYourSummer pic.twitter.com/vqxK2CGb5t
The Lions managed to forge their way into the Bulls 22 on a few occasions in the final quarter, but had two tries disallowed for infringements in the build-up.
Wing Richard Kriel was able to finish off with 14 minutes to go, but the Bulls showed laudable discipline to close out the victory.
Points-Scorers
Bulls 31 – Tries: Canan Moodie (2), Willie le Roux, Sebastian de Klerk, Marco van Staden. Conversions: David Kriel (3).
Lions 19 – Tries: Henco van Wyk, PJ Botha, Richard Kriel. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (2).