TheSportsCampus

With the platform laid in the tight phases, the Vodacom Bulls recorded their ninth straight Vodacom Super Rugby victory over the Toyota Cheetahs when they won 40-24 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday evening. With 20 minutes to go in the match, the Vodacom Bulls were well ahead, by 40-0 after they had crossed the visitors' tryline six times – four of those in an 18 minute blitzkrieg in the first half to secure the bonus point.

And even though they started the second half as slowly as they did the first, they still added two tries between minutes 55 and 60, before Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made a raft of replacements.

That not only cost the home team their rhythm, but also gave the Toyota Cheetahs some impetus to start playing with more attacking flair. In the final 20 minutes, the visitors crossed for four tries to give the final scoreline more balance.

However, it has to be said that the Vodacom Bulls never looked like losing after they lead by 26-0 at the break.

Wynand Olivier could celebrate his 100th Vodacom Super Rugby appearance with some champagne while Morné Steyn became the first player this season to pass 200 points. And four of the 10 tries at Loftus Versfeld were scored by props – Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger of the Vodacom Bulls got one each while WP Nel, who came on as a replacement for the Toyota Cheetahs, scored a brace.

Scorers:

Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Pierre Spies, Zane Kirchner, Dean Greyling, Francois Hougaard, Werner Kruger, Bjorn Basson. Conversions: Morné Steyn (5).

Toyota Cheetahs – Tries: WP Nel (2), Willie le Roux, Heinrich Brüssow. Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (2).