The Bulls take on the Lions in a match that takes on more significance thanks to the cancellation of the match between Western Province and the Sharks this weekend.
One eye on the knockouts
It is now possible for the Lions to clinch a home semi-final in what will be their final round-robin phase match at Loftus.
To do that though, they will need to get one over on the table-topping Bulls, who can secure a home final in the midweek clash if they can repel the Lions at Loftus.
Match report: Bulls 22-15 Lions
The first half was a kicking battle marred by some poor refereeing from Cwengile Jadezweni, whose grasp of the dark arts of the scrum was threadbare at best.
The ref’s mistakes affected the Lions more, sapping their momentum although they were given their own gift penalty.
After the Lions built a 9-0 lead they let it slip in the second twenty minutes of the first half.
The Bulls would take a 12-9 lead into the half after four penalties were goalled by Chris Smith.
Half-time
Early in the second half the Bulls showed more attacking intent and were soon rewarded with a try to Embrose Papier.
The game continued to be a scrappy affair and the Lions got back into the contest with a pair of penalty goals from Swanepoel.
A late yellow card for the Lions Ruan Dreyer and a penalty goalled by substitute Morne Steyn seemed to make the game safe for the Bulls, but the Lions would keep attacking.
The Bulls had Marco van Staden sent to the bin and were lucky not to see Ruan Nortje follow him after another professional foul but the Lions couldn’t get over and had to be content with a bonus point for losing by seven.
Currie Cup updates: Relive Bulls 22-15 Lions
CURRIE CUP TEAMS: BULLS VS LIONS
Bulls – 15 David Kriel, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Jay-Cee Nel, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jan Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Tim Agaba
Lions – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Wandisile Simelane, 23 Francke Horn.
BULLS VS LIONS: KICK-OFF TIME AND WHERE TO WATCH
Date: Wednesday, 6 January 2021
Time: 16:00
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Paul Mente and Morne Ferreira
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
TV: SuperSport Rugby
