The Northern Bulls of South Africa overwhelmed the Waikato Chiefs of New Zealand 61-17 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to record a record winning margin for a Super 14 final.
After conceding the first try of a match watched by a sell-out 52,000 crowd, the Bulls scored three quick tries en route to a 34-7 half-time advantage and crossed the line a further four times in the second half.
The previous widest margin was eight years ago when Australia’s ACT Brumbies outclassed South Africa’s Coastal Sharks 36-6 in the southern hemisphere championship climax.
PHOTO: AFP
Chiefs soaked up fierce early pressure before taking a seventh-minute lead when fly-half Stephen Donald fielded a kick from full-back Zane Kirchner and set up wing Lelia Masaga to score a converted try under the posts.
The home crowd were stunned, but the silence lasted just two minutes before scrum-half Fourie du Preez took a tap penalty close to the Chiefs tryline and barged over for a try fly-half Morne Steyn converted to restore equality.
Du Preez struck again soon after as he snapped up a pass after centre Wynand Olivier dispossessed Chiefs hooker Aled de Malmanche and darted down the right touchline to cross for a try with Steyn again adding the conversion.
PHOTO: AFP
Bulls were playing like men inspired, not giving Chiefs a second to settle, and scored a third try on 15 minutes when wing Bryan Habana snatched a grubber kick and raced away for a try Steyn converted from the touchline.
Steyn, scorer of four drop goals in the semi-final triumph over defending champions Canterbury Crusaders last weekend, dropped another one and the Bulls led 24-7 midway through the first half.
Steyn kicked a penalty and Donald missed one before 2007 World Rugby Player of the Year Habana crossed the line again in the final minute of the half after an intercept and the conversion gave the home team a 34-7 advantage.
Fullback and captain Mils Muliaina was first to score in the second half as he demonstrated good handling skills, acceleration and power to go over under the posts and Donald kicked his second conversion.
But the Bulls responded within two minutes as Steyn, leading Super 14 points scorer this season ahead of Donald, slotted a simple penalty to maintain his 100 percent record in the match.
Donald kicked a penalty and then came the Bulls fifth try as inspirational captain and lock Victor Matfield dived over a mass of players to touch down and a Steyn kick at goal failed for the first time with the conversion hitting the post.
More misery was to follow for Chiefs as center Wynand Olivier and No. 8 Pierre Spies scored tries and Steyn converted the second for the Bulls to move 54-17 ahead entering the closing stages.
And there was still time for another try as replacement forward Danie Rossouw crossed the line and fly-half Burton Francis, a late entrant in place of Steyn, converted.
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