Bulls power to S14 title

The Bulls romped to their second Super 14 title in three years with an emphatic 61-17 win over the Chiefs at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The South African outfit treated their vociferous home crowd to a rugby masterclass - running in eight tries past the hapless Chiefs.

The damage was done in the opening 40 minutes when Bryan Habana, who has now become the most prolific South African try-scorer in the competition, and compatriot Fourie du Preez both crossed twice.

Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina gave the visiting fans hope of overturning a 34-7 deficit six minutes into the second half, however Victor Matfield sealed the win before Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies and finally Danie Rossouw added the gloss.

Bulls fly-half Morne Steyn, a candidate to wear the number 10 shirt for the Springboks, with a near-flawless kicking display that yielded 19 points.

Electrifying

The rout didn't seem on the cards when Stephen Donald broke down the right six minutes in before feeding Lelia Masaga for a quick-fire score.

Donald booted over the extras, though the Loftus Versfeld faithful did not have to wait long for a response.

Sprinboks scrum-half du Preez followed up Zane Kirchner's break and Steyn's conversion made it 7-7 after the opening 10 minutes.

And the lively du Preez brought the home fans off their seats again just 90 seconds later when he surged down the right wing and crossed in the corner. Steyn's stunning touchline conversion made it 14-7 to the Bulls.

Just five minutes later the Bulls struck again. This time it was the electrifying Habana who latched onto du Preez's deft grubber to race over in the corner.

The try was Habana's 36th in Super 14 rugby - the most by any South African in the competition's history.

Result sealed

Steyn continued to knock over points with ease, landing the conversion and a sweetly struck drop goal, his 11th of the season, to put the Bulls 24-7 ahead.

Both sides traded big hits as the half wore on but Steyn's first penalty of the evening extended the Bulls' lead to 20 points as the Chiefs looked on in disbelief.

The game-sealing try came on the stroke of half-time when Habana intercepted Richard Kahui's pass on the halfway line before strolling in. Steyn's conversion gave Bulls what looked an unassailable 34-7 lead at half-time.

The Chiefs returned for the second half knowing they had to score first, and that is exactly what they did courtesy of Muliaina on 46 minutes. Donald's conversion made it 37-14.

The New Zealanders continued their comeback with a Donald penalty five minutes later, however the result was sealed on 57 minutes when captain Matfield reached over the top of a ruck for a timely first try of the season.

Olivier crossed for the Bulls' sixth shortly after, and the final nails were hammered into the Chiefs' coffin by Spies and Rossouw in the closing stages.