Match Details

Bulls (SA)

VS

Chiefs (NZ)

30

Pretoria Kick off times: 5:00pm (Local) Sat 24 Feb 2:00am (AEDT) Sun 25 Feb

27

Heartbreak for the Chiefs in Pretoria when another last-gasp try in round four of the Investec Super 14 saw Springbok winger Bryan Habana secure a thrilling 30-27 win for the Bulls.

Making the loss all the more frustrating for the New Zealand side, which has now lost four games in a row, was that it looked the better side for most of the game.

Chiefs flyhalf Stephen Donald started the scoring when kicking a penalty goal five minutes into the game.

Then No 8 Sione Lauaki worked the blindside from a scrum to feed fullback Dwayne Sweeney.

Sweeney drew the defence and got the ball to a flying wing Lelia Masaga who was too elusive for the defence.

Two penalty goals to Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn pulled the margin back 10-6.

Bulls captain and lock Victor Matfield turned down penalty goal chances to look for try-scoring opportunities and despite some outstanding Chiefs defence, the policy worked by wearing down the defenders.

Blindside flanker Danie Rossouw won the lineout and from a ruck five metres from the Chiefs line, halfback Fourie Du Preez passed to lock Bakkies Botha who marked his return from 10 months out with injury by scoring for the Bulls to go ahead 11-10

Prop Gurthro Steenkamp then scored after some concerted pick and go movements by the home team.

The Chiefs had problems with their lineout and several times Matfield secured ball from them, reducing the chance for the Chiefs to build a solid platform for their backs.

Where the Chiefs were more effective was in the loose with their loose trio of Marty Holah, Steven Bates and Lauaki dominating their opponents to ensure one area of ball supply.

The Bulls led 19-10 at half time but almost immediately after the re-start, Sweeney scored when following through on a Donald grubber kick. Donald added the conversion.

Masaga scored a superb individual try, demonstrating his quality sidestep to give the Chiefs the lead.

However, infringements cost the Chiefs and two penalty goals to replacement flyhalf Derrick Hougaard gave the Bulls a 25-24 lead.

Donald added a penalty goal after the Bulls were caught offside in the 79th minute.

From the kick-off, the Bulls ran the ball back through Habana, fullback Johan Roets and halfback du Preez. Rossouw broke two tackles to continue the charge downfield. He linked with flyhalf Jaco van der Westhuizen, who passed to inside centre Wayne Julies.

He then got the ball to Habana whose speed and experience resulted in a try in the corner and while the video referee was consulted he was happy with the grounding of the ball.

Bulls 30

Tries:  Botha, Steenkamp, Habana

Penalties:  Steyn 3; Hougaard 2

Chiefs 27

Tries: Masaga 2, Sweeney t

Conversions: Donald 3

Penalties: Donald 2