Pretty happy with that side, without getting Smith & Walden back yet, that's about as good as it gets I reckon. Thank fark Ioane really, really stepped up this year (cue him dropping back to Li levels this weekend just to spite me).

Of course if Li could be replaced by anyone it would be great. Go on Hammington, you know it's better when you don't have to pass much anyway....

I know he wouldn't get much game time in his first year of SR, but still a bit disappointed we haven't seen more of Folau Fakatava.

@Stargazer especially when Hammington has been dire at times, but I guess they had to persevere with him as he's been pretty handy in past seasons.

Bulls

15 Divan Rossouw (24, 15)
14 Cornal Hendricks (38, 65)
13 Dylan Sage (8, 0)
12 Burger Odendaal (54, 30)
11 Johnny Kotze (44, 45)
10 Handré Pollard (c; 57, 598)
9 Embrose Papier (22, 5)
8 Marco van Staden (23, 15)
7 Hanro Liebenberg (41, 30)
6 Ruan Steenkamp (18, 0)
5 RG Snyman (46, 10)
4 Jason Jenkins (50, 35)
3 Trevor Nyakane (105, 15)
2 Schalk Brits (73, 20)
1 Lizo Gqoboka (51, 15)

Replacements:
16 Jaco Visagie (44, 5)
17 Simphiwe Matanzima (14)
18 Wiehahn Herbst (47, 0)
19 Jannes Kirsten (29, 20)
20 Johannes Grobbelaar (3, 0)
21 Ivan van Zyl (28, 35)
22 Manie Libbok (16, 50)
23 JT Jackson (2, 0)

Referee: Angus Gardner
AR1: Paul Williams
AR2: James Munro
TMO: Ben Skeen

Parkinson's star has faded abruptly. The expectations were great thanks to a very good Mitre 10 Cup. What happened ?

@cgrant first season and all, he's played well in his appearances but then so have all the other more experienced locks.

Bulls taking people out way beyond the ruck and looking for niggle ... and it's the first minute!

@cgrant Everyone at Ta$man seemed to be rated very highly for some reason.

4.5 minutes in, the Landers looking equal parts dangerous and equal parts tits for hands with 3 knock ons...

Tomkinson makes a lot of errors.

King Luke looking every bit an AB so far.

@Bones said in Highlanders v Bulls:

King Luke looking every bit an AB so far.

The experiment of him at 6 was an absolute fail.

Unbelievably untidy from the Highlanders, what are they up to 7 or 8 turnovers including knock ons, penalties and kicking out on the full all inside the first 8 minutes.

@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Bulls:

@Bones said in Highlanders v Bulls:

King Luke looking every bit an AB so far.

The experiment of him at 6 was an absolute fail.

Great point.

Josh McKay's first Super Rugby try!

Bit of a minties moment for that Bulls back.

Points on the board, hopefully that’ll settle them down.

There is something very Ben Smith-esq about this McKay kid from what I’ve seen so far. Might be the similar running style, but might also be the time he seems to have.

Terrible defence as I type by the Clan

Hammett said to watch Brits...so they did.

That is a knock on, great work by the TMO