PRETORIA, South Africa, April 21 (Reuters) – Flyhalf Morne
Steyn had to do the bulk of the scoring with his boot as the
Northern Bulls were outscored by five tries to two but still
beat the ACT Brumbies 36-34 in their Super Rugby match at Loftus
Versfeld on Saturday.
Steyn kicked seven penalties, a conversion and a drop goal
as the Bulls built a 33-13 lead heading into the final quarter.
But the young Brumbies side made the Bulls look vulnerable
at home as they ran in three tries in the last 11 minutes to
earn two bonus points.
The Brumbies scored the opening try in the 10th minute,
after two Steyn penalties, as wing Henry Speight sprinted clear
down the right touchline, flyhalf Christian Lealiifano having
created space as he sucked in defenders in midfield.
The Brumbies’ second try, in the 13th minute, was due to the
same move, although this time it was the fullback, Jesse Mogg,
who sliced through the midfield to score.
Steyn kicked a pair of penalties before half-time though,
and, with the Bulls backline showing good hands to create space
and time for wing Bjorn Basson to score in the right corner, the
home side led 19-13 at the break, following Steyn’s conversion
and a penalty by Lealiifano.
The Springboks flyhalf began the second half with a drop
goal when he knew he had the penalty advantage anyway, and the
Bulls stretched their lead to 25-13 in the 46th minute when they
earned a penalty on halfway, which Steyn kicked.
The Brumbies were unfortunate to concede a try to flank CJ
Stander in the 58th minute when they stopped playing following
an obvious knock-on by Steyn. Even the Bulls players were
expecting a scrum, before Stander eventually realised the
whistle had not blown and he ran clear from 60 metres out.
The Australians were stung into action by the injustice and
they were rewarded for their impressive efforts with ball in
hand by three late tries, by centre Andrew Smith, replacement
scrumhalf Ian Prior and replacement hooker Anthony Hegarty,
which gave them two bonus points to keep them on top of the
Australian conference.
(Editing by Stephen Wood)
