Match Details

Waratahs

VS

Bulls (SA)

19

Sydney Kick off times: 7:40pm (Local) Sat 10 Mar 7:40pm (AEDT) Sat 10 Mar

32

The Bulls brutally exposed the Waratahs numerous inadequacies when Bryan Habana and Fourie Du Preez each scored a pair of tries in an historic 32-19 bonus-point win at Sydney's Aussie Stadium on Saturday night.

Winger Habana and scrum half Du Preez scored a try in each half as the Bulls registered its first ever Super Rugby win in Sydney to remain on course for a semi-final berth.

Feeding on a multitude of errors gifted to them by a butter-fingered and mistake-riddled Waratahs team, the Bulls didn’t need to shift out of second gear as they cruised to a comfortable win.

The Waratahs only gained some respectability with three minutes remaining when fly-half Kurtley Beale crossed for the Waratahs sole try from close range. It was a deserved reward for Beale whose performance shone like a beacon amid the NSW gloom.

The Waratahs should have taken a 9-8 half-time lead thanks to three penalty goals by fullback Peter Hewat but the home surrendered the lead when Hewat's clearance from the kick-off was charged down and centre Daniel Halangahu knocked on the loose ball.

From the scrum Du Preez powered down the blindside and reached over to score on the half-time hooter. This typified the Waratahs night.

The Waratahs began with promise when Hewat opened the scoring with a long-distance penalty goal but the Bulls didn't have to wait long to post its first points when Hougaard slotted an easy penalty goal from 24 metres to square the score at 3-all.

The Bulls then took the lead 8-3 in the 15th minute when Waratah winger Morgan Turinui's lack of pace was tellingly exposed.

From a 40 metre scrum, Du Preez dashed down the blindside and grubbered the ball ahead for Habana to sprint ahead to regather and score.

NSW tried to fight back but blew a try scoring chance in the 28th minute when No.8 Wycliff Palu crashed through in mid-field after a line-out and linked up with centre Ben Jacobs but his pass to winger Lote Tuqiri was woefully directed into touch.

Hewat made some partial amends two minutes later when he hooked over a 32-metre penalty goal before his third gave NSW a 9-8  before Du Preez's first try on the half-time hooter gave the Bulls a 15-9 lead.

After the break, Hewat reduced the margin to 15-12 with his fourth penalty goal but from the kick-off, NSW lost possession and the ball was sent out to centre JP Nel who grubber kicked ahead and Habana again out-sprinted Turinui to win the race to the ball to score.

The Bulls extended the lead to 25-12 when Hougaard potted a simple penalty goal when replacement NSW scrum half Josh Valentine was penalised for using his elbow when tackled.

Du Preez then secured the important bonus point when he plucked a high ball out of Valentine's hands and race 20 metres to score under the posts.

Bulls 32

Tries: Habana (2), Du Preez (2)

Conversions: Hougaard (3)

Pen Goals: Hougaard (2)

Waratahs 19

Try: Beale

Conversion: Hewat (1)

Pen Goals: Hewat (4)

Crowd: 21,854

Half-time: Bulls 15-9