The Bulls continued their search for a semi final place in the last scheduled match of the 2006 Super 14. The Bulls went into the match knowing that they had to beat the Stormers by more than 32 points and get the bonus point.
The Stormers got the first points of the match with a Peter Grant penalty.
Then after 15 minutes the Stormers floodgates opened as the Bulls scored four tries in 20 minutes. Quick tries by Habana, Olivier, Nel and Steyn gave the Bulls the all important bonus point. The Bulls also picked up two yellow cards.
The two teams went into half time with the Bulls leading by 23 points and having got the bonus point.
The Stormers then got the perfect start with a try by Jean de Villiers. Peter Grant got the conversion cutting the Bulls lead to sixteen.
Schalk Burger then gave a penalty away and Steyn got the lead back up to 19. The Bulls didn’t give up and it wasn’t long before Wessel Roux was driven over the Stormers line for the Bulls fifth try. The conversion took the lead to 26.
After a 10 minute period which saw both teams battling it out Victor Matfield put in a grubber for Habana who pushed a Stormers player off the ball which allowed Habana to score the Bulls sixth try. The conversion brought their lead to 33 points at 10-43.
All the Bulls had to do then was hold the Stormers out for another 15 minutes which they did.
The Semi finals will be Crusaders vs Bulls and Hurricanes vs Waratahs.
Scorers
Bulls – Tries – Habana 2, Olivier, Nel, Steyn,Roux, Conversions – Steyn 4
Stormers – Try – De Villiers. Conversion – Grant, Penalty – Grant
