Match Details

Highlanders (NZ)

VS

Bulls (SA)

13

Dunedin Kick off times: 5:30pm (Local) Sat 24 Mar 4:30pm (AEDT) Sat 24 Mar

22

Springbok lock Victor Matfield led the Bulls to their first win at Carisbrook with a solid 22-13 win over the Highlanders in their Investec Super 14 match on Saturday night.

It was the Bulls' fifth win of the season, the Highlanders' first home loss, and it came after the Bulls dominated much of the match through their big forward pack.

Each side scored one try but first five-eighth Derrick Hougaard gave the Bulls the advantage with six goals, including five penalties, from seven attempts.

It was a disappointing result for the Highlanders who, after some staunch performances, had been scenting a place in the top four.

But they struggled in the set pieces, particularly in the first half and had few chances to unleash their backline.

Craig Newby and Clarke Dermody were standouts in the Highlanders forwards, and Jimmy Cowan in the backs, but the Highlanders spent too much of this game on the back foot.

There was nothing flashy about the Bulls but they played the game through their forwards and, while the Highlanders rallied strongly at the end, the South Africans' win was deserved.

"We were probably our own worst enemies," Highlanders captain Josh Blackie said later.

"We got our own together in the last 15-20 minutes but it was too late."

The Bulls also claimed another record by becoming the first South African super rugby team to claim three wins on an Australasian tour and the win moves them into third place in the competition.

The Highlanders attacked from the kick-off and, after strong runs from props Dermody and Chris King, the Bulls infringed and Evans kicked a handy penalty.

The Bulls turned down two shots at goals from penalties and mounted lineout drives but the Highlanders' defence was sound.

But, from the third penalty, Derrick Hougaard kicked for goal and landed a fine penalty from near touch to level the scores.

The Bulls continued to attack through their big pack but Jimmy Cowan, the Highlanders halfback, showed his defensive prowess with a big tackle on opposite Fourie du Preez.

Fullback Glen Horton sparked the Highlanders with a clever, weaving run from a tap penalty and when the Bulls infringed at the ensuing ruck, Evans kicked his second penalty to make it 6-3.

The Bulls continued to dominate territory and, when the Highlanders attempted to slow down play inside their 22, Hougaard kicked his second penalty, the ball glancing in off the upright to make it 6-all.

The Bulls took the lead for the first time five minutes before halftime when, after they continued to mount pressure from their set pieces, Hougaard kicked his third penalty, from 40 metres.

Highlanders No 8 Ezra Taylor was penalised for a swinging arm on Anton Leonard and Hougaard kicked his fourth penalty to give the Bulls a 12-6 lead at halftime.

The Bulls had a mortgage on territory (67 percent) and possession (54 percent) and, but for their lack of imagination on attack and the Highlanders' stout defence, they would have been ahead by more.

The Highlanders had been under pressure at scrums and lineouts and, apart from the spasmodic breakout, with Horton especially prominent, they had been confined to their own half.

All Black hooker Anton Oliver replaced Jason Macdonald at halftime and, coincidental or not, there was an immediate increase in urgency and scrummaging by the Highlanders.

The home side attacked strongly and, had wing Lucky Mulipola timed his pass correctly, they could have scored their first try.

Taylor was sin-binned for a high tackle on Pedri Wanneburg after 12 minutes and, from 40 metres, Hougaard kicked his fifth penalty to increase the Bulls' lead to 15-6.

The Bulls finally scored the first try 19 minutes into the half when, from a five-metre scrum, they moved the ball to the right, then back to the left where fullback Jaco van der Westhuyzen sprinted over in the Rose Stand corner after he was given the overlap. Hougaard converted splendidly from near touch to make it 22-6.

Alando Soakai replaced the errant Taylor when the Highlanders were restored to 15 players but they had little front-foot ball to work with.

The Highlanders lifted another gear as the game went into its final 10 minutes and, from a steady scrum, Cowan was driven out for a try which Evans converted to reduce the deficit to 22-13.

Cowan, who had been outstanding throughout, was substituted by Toby Morland after scoring his try.

Bulls captain Victor Matfield was sin-binned in the final minute but Evans missed the attempt at goal from the 22 to pick up the bonus point to end a disappointing night for the Highlanders.

Bulls 22

Try: Jaco van der Westhuyzen

Conversion: Derrick Hougaard.

Penalties: Hougaard 5.

Highlanders 13

Try: Jimmy Cowan.

Conversions: Nick Evans

Penalties:  Evans 2.