FULL-TIME, BULLS 22-16 EDINBURGH. A fascinating match that see-sawed back and forth and that had Edinburgh in with a chance of snatching a win at the death… but a great performance from both sides, entertaining and exciting rugby, and we hope you've enjoyed following it as much as enjoyed bringing the action to you!
THAT'S IT! The Bulls win the lineout and kick it into touch to secure the six-point win!
It's kicked into touch and the Bulls need to kill this lineout…
The Bulls keep control and drive forward, and now Edinburgh concede a penalty… and that's the hooter. That should be the win for the Bulls unless something crazy happens.
Edinburgh run from the scrum on the halfway line… but they lose the momentum and give away a penalty, which the Bulls kick into touch for a lineout. Can they control the ball to see out the match?
PENALTY, EDINBURGH, THOMPSON! 22-16; Thompson makes no mistake after the Bulls are penalised in a kickable position.
INCREDIBLE SCENES… Bulls almost over the line, but it's cleared high but still inside the 22m… Moodie grabs and presses for the line, but Edinburgh hold him up then steal the ball and Graham sprints down the line before feeding his the teammates on the half way line… and Duhan van der Merwe gets the ball and drives for the line, only to be bundled out just short of the line by two Bulls defenders.
Bulls drive forward hard, pressing Edinburgh back.
YELLOW CARD, EDINBURGH, VENTER. Carded for barging an opponent without arms… so they will end the match a man down… and Matanzima is back on the field for the Bulls, who go from a man down to a man up for the final 10 minutes.
PENALTY, BULLS, CHAMBERLAIN! 22-13; No problem with the penalty kick… and it's a two-score game with less than 10 minutes on the clock.
Superb driving play by the Bulls, and they win another penalty, from almost in front of the poles.
CONVERSION, BULLS, CHAMBERLAIN! 19-13; Chamberlain makes no mistake from in front of poles.
TRY, BULLS, MOODIE! 17-13; A quick lineout allows the Bulls to stretch wide of the depleted Edinburgh backline… the ball is spread quickly… three passes… before it reaches Moodie who drives forward unopposed to dot down under the posts to take back the lead!
BRILLIANT TURNOVER! The Bulls win the ball, run to the right wing and drive it up the right wing…
Edinburgh press up to the Bulls' 5m… they run the ball then mail, run the maul… the Bulls defending with massive strength.
YELLOW CARD, BULLS, MATANZIMA. That's a big blow as we enter the final 20 minutes.
Edinburg win the ball and it's kicked deep into the Bulls half… there's a three-man chase but the two Bulls players just get to the ball first on the tryline to prevent the try.
The Bulls kick upfield, Edinburgh drive back but lose the ball short of their halfway line and the Bulls have a penalty… and they will scrum.
TURNOVER! Edinburgh are penalised now and the Bulls break upfield.
The Bulls are penalised and Edinburgh kick for touch midway into the Bulls 10m… they look to spread wide down the right but the Bulls are penalised AGAIN and Edinburgh kick to touch for a throw…
The Bulls are penalised and Edinburgh kick for touch midway into the Bulls 10m… they look to spread wide down the right but the Bulls are penalised AGAIN and Edinburgh kick to touch for a throw…
Edinburgh do superbly to win the ball and the runu across the field and up to the far touchline… they drive forward and win a scrum inside the Bulls 10m.
Bulls pressuring the Edinburgh 5m line, passing, driving, running, driving… they win another penalty and this time they kick for the lineout, a kick of 4m.
After being held up on the line the Bulls are awarded a penalty they choose to scrum… but Edinburgh look to be spoiling the scrum.
Edinburgh penalised for going over the top in the loose… the penalty is kicked into the corner for a 5m lineout…
PENALTY, EDINBURGH, THOMPSON! 12-13; The kick from in front of the poles and inside the Bulls' 22 is smashed over and the visitors take the lead.
The Bulls hold them up and win a scrum inside their 22 in front of poles… but are penalised before the ball can be fed into the scrum.
Great pressure from Edinburgh, pressing the Bulls 5m…
The Bulls run the ball down the line well, Canan Moodie doing well down the right. The Bulls keep the pressure up are penalised on their 10m and Edinburgh kick to their 22 for a throw.
KICK-OFF! The match is underway…
Van Der Walt fails with the conversion, but that's a nice lead for the Bulls early on.
TRY, BULLS, VAN DER WALT! 12-3; Bulls crash over again after some superb team running and passing.
HALF-TIME, BULLS 12-10 EDINBURGH.
CONVERSION, EDINBURGH, THOMPSON! 12-10; Thompson curls his conversion superbly through the posts from right up against the left touchline - not easy for the left-footed kicker! And there's the half-time whistle.
TRY, EDINBURGH, TBC! 12-8; The visitors crash over from a lineout on the 5m line after some excellent pressure.
CONVERSION, BULLS, VAN DER WALT! 7-3. Nice kick from 15m in from touch on the right.
TRY, BULLS, KIRSTEN! 5-3; TMO awards it as a try. Bold call as that was a tight one, but great play the Bulls.
GREAT RUNNING from the Bulls, driving into the Edinburgh 22… three quick passes find Jannes Kirsten two metres out and the big man crashes over the line… but it looks like he might have dropped it JUST before he dotted it. Very awkward as he was twisting sideway to get the ball down.
Edinburgh run the ball but are bundled into touch.
Bulls run the line, maul, then kick over the top and chase, but Edinburgh win the ball on their 22… keeper launches it to the Bulls 10m, Bulls catch and are forward out. Edinburgh have the throw.
Bulls feed the scrum but it collapses and the ref orders a rebuild.
Edinburgh penalised after David Kriel is clattered into by Darcy Graham as the Bulls man rose to take the high ball. Both players were injured as they landed. The Bulls clear long but Edinburgh run back at them and then concede a penalty
Bulls penalised for collapsing the scrum, and Edinburgh kick the ball into touch 10m short of the Bulls' 22…
Bulls counter at pace deep into the Edinburgh half… they are closed down in the 22 and Edinburgh clear the danger.
Edinburgh press forward again into the Bulls half.
PENALTY, EDINBURGH, THOMPSON! 0-3; Nails his kick from just behind the Bulls' 10m line and to the right of the poles.
Edinburgh back on attack but the Bulls are holding them… but Edinburgh get a penalty and will go for posts.
Edinburgh with a dashing drive forward but they give a penalty away just short of the Bulls' 22.
Blues drive down the right but are hauled in.
Bulls win the lineout and chase up a kick over the top from the base of the scrum.
After an injury break the sides scrum inside the Edinburgh 22, but the Bulls are penalised and the kick goes to the 10m line.
The Bulls clear the ball deep upfield and then win a free kick of their own which is drilled to the Edinburgh 22 for the throw-in.
Edinburgh win a free kick and it's kicked deep into Bulls territory for a line-out.
Edinburgh clear from the back and the Bulls look to counter…
KICK-OFF! We're underway with the first half!
The Bulls have won four of their last five games, while Ediburgh have won just two.
Edinburgh lead 2-1 in wins over the last three meetings between these two sides.
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Griffon Colby (South African), Dylan November (South African)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Boan Venter, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Tom Dodd, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Ross McCann.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Barend Smit, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Armand van der Merwe (captain), 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Kloppers, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Marcel Coetzee, 21 Keegan Johannes, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Aphiwe Dyantyi.
Good afternoon and welcome to Loftus for our coverage of this United Rugby Championship clash between the Bulls and Edinburgh.
United Rugby Championship -
Bulls Edinburgh URC
