Bulls leapfrog Lions after demolition derby

The Vodacom Bulls moved above the Lions on the URC log after an eight-try romp at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Bulls ran out commanding 52-17 winners after leading 26-3 at half-time, and climbed to seventh, one place above their Jukskei rivals.

The Pretoria-based side has now won all five URC Jukskei derbies at Ellis Park and this was sweet revenge for a 43-33 loss at Loftus Versveld in late November.

On a scorching hot day in Joburg, the Bulls controlled the first half through an accurate kicking and aerial contest game, and then being clinical in the red zone.

The Bulls were first to score, in the 10th minute, when centre Harold Vorster slipped out of a tackle close to the line and wriggled over under the posts. Handre Pollard slotted the first of six conversions.

However, the visitors were then reduced to 14 men when Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse was yellow-carded on the quarter-hour mark for taking out opposite number Richard Kriel in the air.

The Lions got on the board on 23 minutes when flyhalf Chris Smith slotted a penalty from the 10m line.

The Bulls were next to score when hooker Johan Grobbelaar muscled over after more pressure on the Lions tryline. Pollard pulled his conversion but the visitors held a 12-3 lead.

The Bulls continued to dominate and Pollard was next to score when he took a flat pass after more pressure on the Lions line. His conversion gave the Bulls a 19-3 lead.

Polly scores a CRACKER! 🏉

Handre Pollard with try number three for the @vodacom @BlueBullsRugby.@LionsRugbyCo @BlueBullsRugby @Vodacom #URC#LIOvBUL #JukskeiDerby |#EXTRAAYourSummer | #ExtraordinaryLeague pic.twitter.com/1z64jRimh4

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) January 31, 2026

Just when the Lions thought the half couldn’t get any worse, they contrived to cough up possession in midfield and the Bulls gleefully accepted their fourth try, Arendse on hand to round off.

The Vodacom Bulls have a first half bonus point at Ellis Park 🐂🔥

📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/u5lruDFf0G

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 31, 2026

The home side emerged after the break desperate to get a foothold in the game and launched wave after wave of attack, before Bok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg gave Lions fans a glimmer of hope.

The Lions went in search of another score but a devastating Bulls breakout from deep in their half ended with Vorster scoring his second.

Thereafter, it was all Bulls as they simply played their rivals off the park, with further scores from Embrose Papier, who had a superb game, and substitutes Mpilo Gumede and Keagan Johannes.

The Lions managed a late converted score by centre Bronson Mills but the day belong to the men from Pretoria.

LIONS – Tries: Morne van den Berg, Bronson Mills. Conversions: Chris Smith (2). Penalty: Smith.
BULLS – Tries: Harold Vorster (2), Johan Grobbelaar, Handre Pollard, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Embrose Papier, Mpilo Gumede, Keagan Johannes. Conversions: Handre Pollard (6).

Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images