The Waratahs Waratahs complete the South African leg of their 2010 Super 14 campaign when they meet the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
The Bulls are the defending tournament champions and have started the season with back to back wins, while the Tahs will be looking to return to form after going down at Newlands last weekend.
Dave Dennis and Daniel Halangahu have been elevated to the starting XV for the visitors, while Locky McCaffrey is poised to make his Super 14 debut after being named on the bench.
Highs of 26C in Pretoria are forecast to ease after sunset, with overnight rain and showers throughout the day expected to provide slippery conditions.
The Bulls have moved Hooker Derick Kuun to flank for this match.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off. The match is underway.
1.00: The Waratahs start very well. They push the Bulls right back to their line.
2.00: It's a perfect start for the Waratahs as the pin the Bulls back on their line and Tatafu Polota-Nau scores the first try.
3.00: Berrick Barnes adds the conversion.
4.00: The Waratahs are all over the Bulls. They are running riot and the Bulls are hanging on. The pile on the pressure in attack but du Preez almost comes away with an interception. No wait it's a penalty.
5.00: Berrick Barnes takes the kick and nails it.
8.00: The Waratahs are still piling on the pressure. They swing the ball wide and Ben Mowen rolls in the tackle and reaches out to score the second try.
10.00: Berrick Barnes takes the conversion and nails it.
11.00: The Bulls fight back and Zane Kircher wins a penalty for the Bulls. Steyn kicks for touch. Possession is 80 per cent for the Waratahs.
12.00: The Bulls drive for the line with a maul but get stopped. The Waratahs give away a penalty so the Bulls get another shot. The drive and then the ball gets kicked out.
14.00: Another penalty for the Bulls as they drive for the line. Phil Waugh gets a talking to. He says the pitch is in bad condition and they are slipping. There is a known problem with the pitch. Bulls go for the line out. They hammer away at the tryline but the Waratahs hold them out. They go again and again and finally the defence cracks and Francois Hougaard dodges a tackle and scores!
15.00: Steyn adds the conversion.
17.00: It's frenetic stuff as both teams look to play the game at real pace. Earlier the Bulls looked a bit shellshocked but they are well over that now.
19.00: Berrick Barnes looks up sees nothing is on so he sends over a drop goal.
21.00: The Bulls are awarded a penalty so Morne Steyn takes the kick and slots it.
24.00: Barnes sees the Tahs have an advantage so he attempts the drop goal again but misses. He gets another shot with the penalty and nails it.
26.00: The Bulls give away a penalty and Berrick Barnes takes another shot at goal. He nails it.
30.00: The Bulls set up a scrum 5m out from the Waratahs tryline. The scrum gets re-set and re-set again. The pitch is coming up in shreds.
31.00: Fourie du Preez takes a quick tap and darts off he passes to Gerhard van den Heever who dives over put the Waratahs hold him up. No try.
33.00: It's frenetic stuff again at one mighty pace. The Bulls however finally get a breakthrough and it's Stephan Dippenaar in for the try.
34.00: Morne Steyn adds the conversion.
36.00: The Waratahs work the ball down to the Bulls tryline. They win the line out. They set up their attack but the ball is slow. 5 Phases. Then 6. 7, They go again and again. 10 phases. 12 phases and the Bulls turn it over so Steyn boots it out to safety.
The hooter goes for half time. It is half time.
The half time score is Bulls 17 Waratahs 26
The second half is underway.
The Waratahs give away a penalty from the kick off.
41.00: Morne Steyn nails the penalty.
43.00: It's all happening again at a frenetic pace. Both teams are throwing everything at each other.
47.00: The Bulls come under pressure so Zane Kircher clears but it gives the Waratahs the line out. The Bulls steal it and run it at the Tahs. They go wide and Hougaard gets the gap and dives over the line.
50.00: Morne Steyn takes the kick and nails it to put the Bulls into the lead for the first time.
51.00: Well it's brilliant stuff from both sides. The Waratahs fight back and they swing the ball wide and get the overlap and Lachie Turner beats Wynand Olivier to the tryline for the try.
52.00: Barnes misses the conversion.
55.00: The Bulls work the ball up to the Waratahs tryline. They win a penalty but instead of kicking they run it.. They get caught and stopped out wide. The Bulls however keep the ball alive and recycle and then change sides and swing the ball out to Gerhard van den Heever who scores the bonus point try.
57.00: Steyn adds the conversion from almost the corner flag.
61.00: The Bulls have brought on some of their replacements - Potgieter on for the Kuun with the Bulls. The Waratahs should be fading by now with the altitude but the are still attacking like it's the first minute of the match.
65.00: The Bulls win another penalty so Morne Steyn looks up at the flags and decides to kick for touch.
67.00: The Bulls win a lineout 5m out from the Tahs line. They start to go through the phases using up time and wearing down the Waratahs. Territory has now been 66 per cent in the Waratahs half.
69.00: The Bulls run the ball at the Waratahs and use the dummy runner which allows Wynand Olivier to score under the posts.
69.00: Morne Steyn adds the conversion.
71.00: The Waratahs fight straight back and the create space on the wing and Drew Mitchell bolts off and scores under the posts. Thats the bonus point try.
72.00: Kutley Beale adds the conversion. What a match!
72.00: The Waratahs are not done yet. They run straight at the Bulls and they find holes but the secondary defence gets them. As Barnes gets free they are called back for obstruction.
73.00: Now its the Bulls on attack. They work the ball into the Waratahs half. They start to grind down the Waratahs. 5 phases. 6 Phases. 10 Phases.
75.00: Penalty to the Waratahs. It's not kickable though.
76.00: The Bulls get a penalty this time. It too is not kickable so they kick for touch.
77.00: Steyn puts in a little overhead kick and Jacques-Louis Potgieter chases and catches and scores the Bulls sixth try. Steyn adds the conversion which takes the losing bonus point away from the Waratahs.
They re-start and the Bulls whack the ball downfield, there is huge chase but the ball goes out as the siren goes. Thats it. It's all over.
The final score is Bulls 48 Waratahs 38
Scorers
Bulls
Tries - F Hougaard 2, S Dippenaar ,G van den Heever, W Olivier ,Jacques-Louis Potgieter
Pen - M Steyn 2
Con - M Steyn 6
Drop -
Waratahs
Tries - T Polota-Nau , B Mowen, L. Turner, D Mitchell
Pen - B Barnes 4
Con - B Barnes , K Beale
Drop - B Barnes
Tries - T Polota-Nau , B Mowen, L. Turner, D Mitchell
Pen - B Barnes 4
Con - B Barnes , K Beale
Drop - B Barnes
Match Officials
Referee: Marius Jonker (SA)
Ass. refs: Jason Jaftha (SA), Reuben Rossouw (SA)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (SA)
Referee: Marius Jonker (SA)
Ass. refs: Jason Jaftha (SA), Reuben Rossouw (SA)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (SA)
Teams
Bulls -15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Derick Kuun, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö, Steenkamp.
Reserves: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Deon Stegmann, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 John Mametsa/Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
Waratahs - 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Tom Carter, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (c), 6 Ben Mowen, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Reserves: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Will Caldwell, 19 Locky McCaffrey, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Kurtley Beale, 22 Rob Horne.
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