The Bulls finished top of the Super 14 table with a nail-biting 27-26 victory over the Sharks in an all-South African derby played in Durban on Saturday.
In a tense finale to an absorbing match, the Sharks scored their fourth try in injury time, but finished short of the win that would have put the home side into the semi-finals.
Victory for the Bulls meant they climbed two places to head the table after the conclusion of the round-robin stage of the competition.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The result also effectively decided Saturday’s semi-final draw, with the Bulls hosting defending champions Canterbury Crusaders in Pretoria and the Waikato Chiefs enjoying home advantage in Hamilton against the Wellington Hurricanes, in an all-New Zealand affair.
HUNGRY SHARKS
The Sharks, who began the match in eighth position and needing to win with a bonus point to advance, showed their intent in the opening minutes by not kicking for goal after being awarded a penalty in front of the posts.
The decision backfired when they lost the subsequent 5m lineout and then had to look on as the Bulls opened the scoring with a try from fullback Zane Kirchner after 15 minutes, converted by flyhalf Morne Steyn.
But the visitors were then hamstrung by the sin-binning of center JP Nel and flanker Deon Stegmann, which provided the space for the Sharks to score their first try through back-row forward Keegan Daniel.
Steyn extended the lead to 10-5 with a drop goal in first-half injury time but the Sharks responded immediately after the break when winger Odwa Ndungane scored his team’s second try in the right-hand corner.
For their third touchdown, lock Steven Sykes finished off a scintillating movement down the right touchline.
Prop forward Tendai Mtawarira ran 30m before offloading to Ndungane, who put Sykes away.
The Bulls, trailing by nine points, responded with an excellent try of their own after 52 minutes through wing Akona Ndungane — the twin brother of the Sharks’ Odwa — to set up a tense final half-hour.
BACK IN THE LEAD
Steyn regained the lead for the Bulls with his second drop goal on the hour mark before replacement Danie Rossouw ensured an eight-point cushion with six minutes to play when he stretched over for a converted try from close range.
The Sharks saved their best for last, with Ryan Kankowski crashing over in injury time for a converted try, but it wasn’t enough and the game ended to a collective groan from the 40,000-strong crowd.
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