Super Rugby
Chiefs attacking flair too much for Bulls
May 22, 2015
Report Match details
Date/Time: May 22, 2015, 19:35 local, 07:35 GMT
Venue: Rotorua International Stadium
Chiefs 34 - 20 Bulls
Half-time: 15 - 15
Tries: Heem, Messam, Nanai-Williams, Pulu 2
Cons: McKenzie 3
Pens: McKenzie
Tries: Basson, Labuschagne, Serfontein
Cons: Pollard
Pens: Pollard
Johan Bardoul of the Chiefs is tackled, Chiefs v Bulls, Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua, May 22, 2015
The Chiefs displayed some enterprising rugby
© Getty Images
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Augustine Pulu delivered a reminder of his explosive ability as the Chiefs overwhelmed the Bulls 34-20 in their Super Rugby match at Rotorua. Handed a rare start this season, half-back Pulu crossed for two tries in the space of two minutes to power the home side to a five tries-to-three win, keeping them second in the New Zealand conference and fourth overall.

South African conference leaders the Bulls did their playoff hopes no good on Friday, clocking up a sixth defeat and their second on the trot after a narrow loss to the Blues last week. It leaves them vulnerable to be passed by the Stormers and to also lose their sixth place overall as they line up tour games against the Brumbies and Rebels.

The Chiefs' ninth win from 13 games was built around keeping the ball alive against opponents who were largely content to kick it away. Throwing a remarkable 31 offloads to seven - even without absent offload maestro Sonny Bill Williams - the home side forced the Bulls to make countless tackles, which they gradually began to fall off.

Chiefs 34-20 Bulls (video available in Australia only)

It was 15-15 at half-time before Pulu, who ran dynamically all night, bagged his decisive double, the second a sweeping score sparked by a bust from first five-eighth Damian McKenzie. Pulu, who made his first two All Blacks appearances against the United States and Scotland last November, has been largely confined to Chiefs bench duty this season by the emergence of halfback Brad Weber.

Weber was given a late chance and helped create the final try after the hooter to replacement wing Tim Nanai-Williams.

Before that, the Bulls took advantage of a yellow card shown to Chiefs flanker Sam Cane for cynical play, crossing through Bulls replacement forward Arno Botha from a rolling maul. The Bulls' two other tries came in the opening minutes, to second five-eighth Jan Serfontein and wing Bjorn Basson. Both pounced on the inability of Chiefs wingers Hosea Gear and Bryce Heem to sufficiently deal with grubber kicks into their corner.

A Chiefs run of 26 unanswered points began when captain Liam Messam drove over, followed by a try to Heem which featured some brilliant handling and two crucial injections from Pulu.

Augustine Pulu played a huge role in the Chiefs win © Getty Images
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